WASHINGTON – Two Wayne County business owners were sentenced Thursday for failing to pay employment taxes, said the Justice Department and the United States Attorney’s Office in a joint statement.
Michael and Jeanette Taylor of Wayne were sentenced to serve 21 and 27 months in prison respectively following an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation.
According to court documents, the Taylors owned and operated a construction company between 2000 and 2010. The company’s focus was the transportation of steel, solid gravel and concrete throughout West Virginia and Kentucky. The business’ name was changed on numerous occasions, though the operations remained consistent. The most recent name of the business was Bluegrass Aggregates, which was given in 2010.
From July 2007 to 2010, the Taylors withheld over $850,000 in taxes to purchase property and finance their horse farm. They also failed to pay over $490,000 for prior business.
On Oct. 18, 2016, Michael Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defund the United States, and Jeanette Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes.
In addition to the prison sentence, Michael Taylor must serve three years of supervised released and pay more than $1.4 million to the IRS. Jeanette Taylor will also serve three years of supervised release and pay more than $760,000 jointly with her husband as well as individually to the revenue service.