Tolland Businessman Facing 3 Years In Fed Tax Case

TOLLAND, CT — A Tolland businessman is facing there years in prison in a federal tax evasion case, a leading prosecutor said.

John H. Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ramsey E. Covington, acting special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation unit in New England, said Wednesday that 58-year-old Tolland resident Kenneth Sweeney waived his right to be indicted and entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden to a federal tax offense.

Pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the court proceeding occurred via videoconference the previous day.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sweeney owned and operated a construction business known as K&S Construction LLC.

From 2013 through 2016, Sweeney "typically" used a tax preparer to assist with the filing of his personal income tax returns, case records show. When meeting with his preparer, Sweeney did not provide documents reflecting the gross receipts or expenses for his business and, instead, orally provided figures of income and expenses that he knew "significantly" underreported the gross receipts of his business and his income, according to a case records.

Sweeney's personal tax returns for the 2013 through 2016 tax years, which Sweeney authorized his preparer to file with the IRS, underreported Sweeney’s income, resulting in a tax loss of at least $100,000, according to case records.

Sweeney pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years.

Durham said a sentencing date is not scheduled.

Sweeney is released pending sentencing.