TRENTON, N.J. — Gordian A. Ndubizu, a 69-year-old resident of Princeton Junction, New Jersey, has been convicted of evading federal income taxes and filing false tax returns, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. The conviction came on August 15, 2024, after a federal jury in Trenton returned a guilty verdict on all eight counts of the indictment following a four-day trial.
Ndubizu, a professor of accounting at a Pennsylvania university and co-owner of Healthcare Pharmacy in Trenton, was found guilty of four counts of tax evasion and four counts of filing false tax returns for the tax years 2014 through 2017. The jury deliberated for just two hours before delivering the verdict in the case presided over by U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi.
According to court documents and trial evidence, Ndubizu engaged in a scheme to evade taxes by preparing fraudulent books and records for Healthcare Pharmacy. He inflated the pharmacy’s costs of goods sold to underreport its profits, which flowed through to him and his wife as income. Among the fraudulent activities, Ndubizu falsely identified wire transfers as payments for goods when, in reality, these transfers were directed to his personal bank accounts and to accounts in Nigeria associated with an automotive company he controlled.
As a result of these fraudulent activities, Ndubizu failed to report approximately $3.28 million in income from the pharmacy, leading to the evasion of about $1.25 million in taxes due and owing. Additionally, his tax returns falsely claimed that he had no financial interest in or signature authority over any foreign bank accounts.
Each count of tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Each count of filing a false tax return carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation leading to Ndubizu’s conviction was conducted by special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, led by Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark. The investigation also received support from special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as officers from the Trenton Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the District of New Jersey.
