Guilford business owner pleads guilty to tax offense

Date: July 18, 2024

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Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that Michelle Ann Gilson, of Guilford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to a federal tax offense stemming from her failure to pay business payroll taxes.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gilson co-owned and co-operated B&M Package Solutions, Inc. and formerly owned and operated Epic Empirez, Inc., both Guilford-based package delivery companies. As co-owner, Gilson was responsible for company books, payroll, and invoices, and for collecting and paying over certain federal taxes from her employees, namely federal income taxes and Federal Insurance Contribution Act ("FICA") taxes, which include Medicare and Social Security taxes. She was also responsible for ensuring that B&M Package Solutions and Epic Empirez, as employers, paid their own share of FICA taxes. An investigation revealed that, beginning in 2017, Gilson failed to report employees' federal income and FICA taxes, and failed to pay over withheld amounts.

Gilson pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to pay over withholding taxes. In pleading guilty, Gilson admitted that she failed to pay over the withheld employee taxes, as well as the employers' share of FICA taxes, for multiple quarters during the 2017 through 2022 tax years. Gilson has agreed to pay approximately $1,407,831 in restitution to the IRS.

Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for October 9, at which time Gilson faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. She is released on bond pending sentencing.

This matter is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena L. Coronado.