The Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse in Downtown Fresno. File photo

A Fresno business owner will serve time in prison following a conviction for tax evasion.

The suspect— Jeffrey G. Vincent, 68, of Madera, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to four years and three months in prison for tax evasion according to a press release by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Vincent was convicted on five counts of evading the assessment and payment of individual income taxes by a federal jury on Apr. 7.

According to evidence presented during the four-day trial, in 1991, Vincent began operating Fresno-based engineering company Veco Technologies, organized as Staffer Group Limited Partnership, for which he was general partner. Vincent had not filed an individual income tax return since 1989, despite earning significant income from Stafford Group, including close to $500,000 between 2007 and 2010. Two federal tax liens were filed on Vincent’s assets in 1993 and 2000 when he failed to pay assessments made for earlier years’ tax delinquencies.

Vincent signed tax returns for Stafford Group in which he falsely represented that he does not have a social security number. Vincent also funneled his income through various trusts and other entities.

“Mr. Vincent formed entities and funneled his income in a manner that enabled him to evade paying taxes,” said Michael T. Batdorf, special agent in charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “All taxpayers are required to follow the law and the law requires accurate reporting and timely payment of any tax due and owing. Today’s sentencing should send a clear message that those involved in these types of schemes will be held accountable for their crimes.”

The case was investigated by the IRS and prosecuted by Baker U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Baker and Kirk E. Sherriff.