Mifflin County Fast-Food Restaurant Owner Sentenced for Tax Evasion
Restitution Totaling $90,821.30 Was Paid Prior to Sentencing
A Lewistown, Mifflin County, fast- food restaurant owner has been sentenced to one year of probation after pleading guilty to 54 counts of state tax offenses, Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Gregory C. Fajt said today.
Gerald O. Roush, former Secretary/Treasurer of JRL Inc., doing business as Arby's of Duncannon, Dauphin County, pleaded guilty in Dauphin County Court in April to charges he failed to file and remit state sales tax collected from customers and state income tax withheld from employees' paychecks; and failed to file Corporate and Personal Income Tax returns.
"This was money owed to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania," Secretary Fajt said. "As customers or employees, we expect the taxes we pay to go to the state and not into the pocket of a business owner.
"The Department of Revenue wants to ensure that those who pay their taxes do not shoulder a greater burden because of those who do not."
On April 21, Dauphin County Judge Lawrence F. Clark, Jr. sentenced Roush, 58, to one year of probation, including 540 hours of community service to be served in Mifflin County. Roush was also ordered to pay fines totaling $5,400. Prior to sentencing, Roush paid $90,821.30 in restitution to the Commonwealth for the state taxes he owed.
Department of Revenue investigators developed the case against Roush and referred it to the Office of Attorney General Gerald J. Pappert after Roush refused to comply voluntarily. Senior Deputy Attorney General George R. Zaiser prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Gerald O. Roush, former Secretary/Treasurer of JRL Inc., doing business as Arby's of Duncannon, Dauphin County, pleaded guilty in Dauphin County Court in April to charges he failed to file and remit state sales tax collected from customers and state income tax withheld from employees' paychecks; and failed to file Corporate and Personal Income Tax returns.
"This was money owed to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania," Secretary Fajt said. "As customers or employees, we expect the taxes we pay to go to the state and not into the pocket of a business owner.
"The Department of Revenue wants to ensure that those who pay their taxes do not shoulder a greater burden because of those who do not."
On April 21, Dauphin County Judge Lawrence F. Clark, Jr. sentenced Roush, 58, to one year of probation, including 540 hours of community service to be served in Mifflin County. Roush was also ordered to pay fines totaling $5,400. Prior to sentencing, Roush paid $90,821.30 in restitution to the Commonwealth for the state taxes he owed.
Department of Revenue investigators developed the case against Roush and referred it to the Office of Attorney General Gerald J. Pappert after Roush refused to comply voluntarily. Senior Deputy Attorney General George R. Zaiser prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.
