Long Island Business Owner Admits Failure to Pay Employment Taxes

A construction business owner pleaded guilty to failure to pay nearly $1 million in payroll tax withholdings, the Department of Justice said June 12.

Edward Hansen of Northport, N.Y., owned and operated steel erection businesses in Suffolk County. From 2008 to 2011, the Internal Revenue Service assessed more than $480,000 in penalties for failure to pay employment taxes on behalf of several of the businesses, according to a news release.

After an assessment in May 2011, Hansen changed the name of his business to BR-Teck Enterprises Inc. and transferred ownership, but continued to operate ...