Kopper Kettle Owners Didn't Pay Taxes: Feds

FEASTERVILLE, PA — The owners of the Kopper Kettle bar and restaurant in Feasterville have been accused by federal prosecutors of failing to pay taxes.

Stephen Eckler, 68, of Ivyland, and Robert Yost, 52, of Southampton, have been charged with willful failure to pay employment taxes, the U.S. Attorney's office in Philadelphia announced.

According to prosecutors, the two did not report $263,340 in cash wages that they paid to dishwashers at the Kopper Kettle from March 2012 through at least September 2016. As a result, Eckler and Yost failed to collect and pay employment taxes to the IRS, including Social Security tax and Medicare tax, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

"Our tax system requires business people to truthfully report the wages paid to their employees," said U.S. Attorney William McSwain. "The defendants’ practice of paying their employees in cash, concealing this from the IRS, and failing to collect and pay federal employment taxes, undermines the integrity of the federal income tax system and harms those who play by the rules. My office will aggressively pursue business people who operate in such an illegal manner."

If convicted, Eckler and Yost face a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and paying full restitution to the IRS.