Fairfield Man Faces Federal Prison Time for Filing False Tax Returns

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that John Blank, 62, of Fairfield, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to three months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, the first six months of which Blank must spend in home confinement. On December 7, 2011, Blank pleaded guilty to one count of making and subscribing a false tax return.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2007, Blank filed a U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for the 2006 tax year that understated his income by approximately $597,000.

Blank, an attorney, has also admitted that he under reported his income for the 2005 tax year.        

As part of his sentence, Blank has been ordered to make restitution of at least $470,868.12, which includes back taxes for the 2005 and 2006 tax years, plus interest and penalties.       

This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Susan Wines.