WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — A Monmouth County man is facing a possible federal prison sentence after admitting to concealing his interest in multiple real estate properties in an effort to avoid paying over $4 million in tax debt.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Matthew Tucci filed tax returns for 2015 and 2016 showing he owed more than $2 million in each year. Despite acknowledging the debt, Tucci failed to fully pay the taxes owed and instead used his resources to purchase real estate.
Tucci is the son of West Long Branch Mayor Janet Tucci, a Republican.
After receiving notices from the Internal Revenue Service in 2017 regarding unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest, Tucci transferred several properties to an entity owned by another individual. Prosecutors said he continued to control at least two of those properties and later sold one and refinanced the other, using the proceeds for personal expenses instead of satisfying his tax obligations.
In 2019, Tucci submitted false documents to the IRS claiming he had no connection to the entity that owned 12 properties, despite evidence showing he maintained control over them.
Sentencing scheduled for October
Tucci is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, as well as potential restitution, supervised release, and financial penalties.
The case was announced by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey.
