MIAMI – Craig Goldstein, 60, of Boca Raton, Fla., former owner of a Lauderdale Lakes towing company, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after having pled guilty previously to three counts of tax evasion for underreporting income and failing to pay federal tax on money he received through a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) kickback scheme and other cash-based fraud.
According to the pleadings, Goldstein was an owner of West Way Towing, a Lauderdale Lakes company that towed and stored disabled vehicles, including ones involved in accidents. Goldstein referred accident victims to certain attorneys and chiropractors who would then illegally charge insurance companies for unneeded services under Florida’s PIP program. Goldstein charged a fee for each patient referral, which he collected in cash and failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Goldstein also failed to report cash he received from vehicle storage lien fees and from vehicle auctions, the sales prices of which were manipulated to falsely reflect that he made no profit. Goldstein admitted owing the U.S. government over $130,000 in income tax.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line, IRS Criminal Investigation, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
IRS-CI, Miami Field Office, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey N. Kaplan and Paul Schwartz prosecuted it.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.