North Tonawanda businessman gets probation for tax evasion over $3M

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A North Tonawanda businessman was given four years of probation for tax evasion that added up to over $3 million, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

George Ward, 57, operated a fire protection and inspection business in Amherst between 2015 and 2020. During that time, he did not file personal income tax returns and did not pay income, social security and Medicare taxes withheld from the pay of his employees. That resulted in a tax loss to the IRS of $953,793. He also failed to file taxes with the New York Department of Taxes and Finance, resulting in a loss of $165,645.

In addition, Ward made false statements to an IRS revenue officer about the filing of taxes and status of his business, used a check cashing business for over $2 million in gross receipt checks from customers instead of putting them into his business' bank account. He also deposited cash from the business into a bank account in his wife's name.

He was convicted of tax evasion. He was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS totaling $2,635,542.666 and to the state totaling $646,770.

The first six months of his probation will be home incarceration and then the second six months will be home detention.