Newtown contractor pleads guilty to hiding $2M from IRS

NEWTOWN — A local contractor has pleaded guilty to tax evasion after concealing more than $2 million over six years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

Thomas R. Saint, 67, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Bridgeport, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Saint was held on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, the office said.

Saint is the owner of Tom Saint Painting and Remodeling LLC, which provides painting and home renovation services, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He evaded federal taxes from 2013 through 2019 by cashing business checks rather than depositing them into the business bank account as well as depositing cash and business checks into his personal bank account, the office said.

Saint did not inform his tax preparer of his conduct, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Fraudulent tax returns that “substantially understated” his gross receipts and income were filed with the IRS, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. In total, Saint failed to report a total of $2,163,645 in gross receipts, costing the government $791,500 in taxes, the office said.

The investigation was conducted by the criminal investigation division of the IRS, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Saint has agreed to pay all outstanding taxes, interest and penalties, the office said.

Saint is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford on May 22 when he faces up to five years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.