Kopper Kettle Owner Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

FEASTERVILLE, PA — One of the owners of the Kopper Kettle bar and restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges.

Stephen Eckler, 68, of Ivyland, pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges of willful failure to pay employment taxes, according to the office of U.S. Attorney William McSwain.

According to prosecutors, Eckler and co-owner Robert Yost did not report $263,340 in cash wages that they paid to dishwashers at the Kopper Kettle from March 2012 through at least September 2016. As a result, Eckler and Yost failed to collect and pay employment taxes to the IRS, including Social Security tax and Medicare tax, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Yost died in November at age 52.

"For our federal tax system to work properly, businesses need to accurately report the wages paid to their employees," McSwain said. "Criminals like Eckler chip away at the integrity of the system, which has a ripple effect on everyone in the community. We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute tax fraud with our law enforcement partners."

Eckler faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and paying full restitution to the IRS.

Kopper Kettle is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike.