Montville Business Owner Admits Ducking Taxes

A Montville man pleaded guilty to tax evasion Monday after not reporting more than $300,000 in income from his asphalt maintenance business to the IRS over several years, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Robert Schaefer, 63, faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for failing to report the income from 2007 to 2011, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced in a news release.

Schaefer owes approximately $80,000 in taxes on the unreported income, according to documents filed in the case.

His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 10.

As the owner and operator of Montville-based Asphalt Maintenance and Stripping Inc., Schaefer was required to include income earned by the business on his individual IRS 1040 form.

But Schaefer diverted approximately $303,000 in business income to his personal accounts by arranging for Asphalt’s customers to pay by cash or check payable to “cash” or to “Robert Schaefer," and then didn't report that money, the news release says.