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Norwalk Landscaper Faces Prison Time For Filing False Tax Return

NORWALK, Conn. -- A Norwalk landscaper faces up to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty Friday to filing a false tax return, according to John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England.

A Norwalk landscaper pleaded guilty on Friday to filing a false tax return

A Norwalk landscaper pleaded guilty on Friday to filing a false tax return

Photo Credit: File

According to court documents, 57-year-old Candido Valadares operates two Norwalk-based landscaping businesses, Candide's Landscaping and Water Gardens, and Candide Contractor & Natural Pools. He also provides snow-removal services during the winter. 

An investigation revealed that he deposited receipts from his businesses into both his business and personal bank accounts, and also paid various employee wages out of his business and personal accounts.

Valadares used a tax return preparer to prepare his yearly tax returns, and the preparer took figures from certain profit-and-loss statements from Valadares or his bookkeeper to prepare relevant tax returns. However, Valadares knew that the statements did not reflect all revenues deposited in his business and personal accounts, according to Durham.

As a result, Valadares's federal tax returns for 2009, 2010, and 2011 underreported hundreds of thousands of dollars in total income, according to court documents.

Valadares is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 8, at which point he faces a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of $100,000. 

He has also agreed to repay the U.S. Treasury $175,898 in restitution for the taxes he failed to pay, and additional penalties and interest that have accrued on unpaid taxes.

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