Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIMOTHY P. DRAPER, 55, of Bethel, was sentenced today by U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in Bridgeport to eight months of imprisonment for tax evasion. Judge Merriam also ordered Draper to pay a $75,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Draper owns and operates T&M Lawn & Landscape, and also owns multiple residential rental properties in Bethel and Danbury. Draper failed to deposit into his business operating accounts numerous checks generated from his landscaping and rental businesses, resulting in underreporting of approximately $1.8 million in business receipts on his tax returns for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 tax years. Draper also paid personal expenses out of the business accounts and failed to categorize the payments as income to him. The underreporting of income resulted in the underpayment of more than $500,000 in income taxes for the three tax years.
Draper has paid $1,117,883.11 in back taxes, interest and penalties.
On April 18, 2022, Draper pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.
Draper, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on January 10.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.