TRENTON, N.J. – Gerard Artz, a 44-year-old construction company owner from Brick, New Jersey, has pleaded guilty to failing to collect and remit employee taxes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Artz entered his plea in front of U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch at the federal court in Trenton.
Artz, who operated a construction business in Brick and New York City, admitted that from 2016 to 2020, his company withheld employment taxes but failed to pay over nearly $938,000 to the IRS.
Despite deducting taxes from his employees’ paychecks, the business did not forward the funds as required by law.
The charges carry serious penalties, including up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Artz has agreed to pay restitution of $937,943 as part of his plea deal. His sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2024.
The investigation was led by special agents from IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, who worked on uncovering the tax fraud.
