ROME, Ga. – Mohammed Ajmal, a Cartersville businessman, has been sentenced for making and subscribing a false tax return. Ajmal didn’t report earnings from over two million {dollars} in “kickback” funds from the usage of coin-operated amusement machines in his service stations and comfort shops.
“Ajmal exploited his kinfolk in his plan to cheat the IRS out of lots of of 1000’s of {dollars},” mentioned U.S. Lawyer Ryan Ok. Buchanan. “Ajmal is now headed to federal jail and shall be required to pay full restitution as a part of his sentence.”
“Consumed by greed, Mohammed Ajmal utilized his relations to cover earnings generated from kickbacks and filed a false tax return as a result of he didn’t report the earnings,” mentioned James E. Dorsey, Particular Agent in Cost, IRS Felony Investigation, Atlanta Discipline Workplace. “IRS Felony Investigation will proceed to pursue anybody who commits tax fraud. These harboring concepts on dishonest the tax system, take word that jail time is a consequence for such actions.”
“The GBI Industrial Playing Unit investigated this case together with federal and native companions. This defendant looking for to defraud the federal government by evading taxes is being held accountable,” mentioned Michael J. Register, Director, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Based on U.S. Lawyer Buchanan, the costs, and different info introduced in court docket: Ajmal owned a number of fuel stations and comfort shops within the Cartersville, Georgia, space via numerous companies. Lots of the shops contained coin-operated amusement machines, generally known as “COAMs.” COAMs are regulated by the Georgia Lottery Company.
Between 2013 and 2015, the Georgia Lottery Company issued administrative rules underneath Georgia regulation, which resulted in Ajmal receiving much less income from the COAMs. In response, Ajmal contacted the corporate holding the grasp license for the COAMs and conveyed that the corporate should pay him further cash, or kickbacks, if the corporate wished to proceed working COAMs on Ajmal’s properties.
To disguise the kickback funds, Ajmal instructed the corporate to jot down checks to his kinfolk. Ajmal then used the monies for his personal profit, together with to construct a brand new dwelling. From 2015 via 2018, the quantity of the kickbacks totaled $2,292,847. Ajmal didn’t report any of this earnings on his tax returns for 2015 via 2017. So Ajmal paid much less federal tax than he really owed for these years.
Mohammed Ajmal, 49, of Cartersville, Georgia, has been sentenced to 2 years in jail to be adopted by one 12 months of supervised launch and ordered to pay restitution within the quantity of $734,232.05. Ajmal was convicted of constructing and subscribing a false tax return on July 12, 2022, after he pleaded responsible.
This case was investigated by Inside Income Service Felony Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with invaluable help offered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Safety Investigations, Cartersville Police Division, Bartow County Sheriff’s Workplace, and the Georgia Lottery Company.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alana Black and Michael Herskowitz prosecuted the case.
For additional info please contact the U.S. Lawyer’s Public Affairs Workplace at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Web tackle for the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.