Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Filing A False Tax Return

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Steven Brickner has pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return. Brickner faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, in 2017, Brickner raised money from investors allegedly for use in the creation of a marijuana growing and distribution enterprise. Brickner failed to report to his tax preparer approximately $1.05 million of “income” that he had earned during that tax year. The source of that income was the investment activity that he operated during 2017. Brickner used a significant portion of that income to purchase high-end vehicles for his own use and for other purposes and activities that were not business-related. Had Brickner reported all of those funds as “income,” the inclusion of these funds would have resulted in a substantial amount of an additional tax due and owing by him for that year. Thus, Brickner’s failure to report the income caused a significant loss of tax revenue to the United States.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.