Old Bridge Man Admits $1.35M In Tax Evasion

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — An Old Bridge resident admitted failing to pay $1.35 million in personal and business taxes through a check cashing scheme he used for his construction company, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced Tuesday.

The man is Alain Rodrigues, 49, of Old Bridge.

He pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to one count each of tax evasion and failure to collect and pay over taxes. Here is the federal complaint against him: https://content.govdelivery.co...

Rodrigues is the owner/operator of a construction company with locations in Old Bridge and Newark. Beginning around 2017, Rodrigues deposited a portion of the payments from customers into a business bank account and converted the balance to cash and money orders, said federal prosecutors.

He then put the money into his own personal bank account, or used it to pay cash wages to employees.

Rodrigues only reported to the IRS the portion of the company’s revenue that was deposited in the business bank account. He did not report the business revenue deposited directly into his personal bank account.

In total, from 2017, Rodrigues failed to pay $554,873 in income taxes on behalf of his company, and failed to collect and pay over $793,139 in employment taxes, for a total of approximately $1.35 million, said U.S. Attorneys.

He could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea agreement, Rodrigues agreed to pay the IRS $1.35 million in restitution and to file amended tax returns. He will be sentenced Dec. 19, 2024.