An office and business manager at a dental practice in Texas was arrested for allegedly concocting a scheme in which he avoided paying $1.7 million in taxes for the business, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.
Jonathan Lepow was charged with tax evasion and failure to pay employment taxes, according to a release dated April 26. If convicted, Lepow faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible maximum fine of $250,000.
As the manager of Lepow DDS in Houston, Lepow reportedly was responsible for handling payroll and making tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
In early 2012, Lepow allegedly stopped paying employment taxes to the IRS. He purportedly avoided paying owed taxes by opening and closing bank accounts, accepting cash payments for dental and other services, and depositing revenue in bank accounts held in the name of other companies. Deposits allegedly were made into accounts for the following businesses: Texas Center for Continuing Education, Lepow Properties LLC, American Dental Supply LLC, Lepow Management Inc., and Lepow Management LLC.
Between the tax years of 2012 to 2016, Lepow's outstanding employment tax obligation was more than $1.7 million, according to the release.
