Tax Evasion Lands Main Line Accountant In Federal Prison

PHILADELPHIA –A 52-year-old Paoli man was sentenced in U.S. District Court here to three years and four months in federal prison for evading millions of dollars in taxes by hiding his income and using the money for a second home, private school tuition, dance lessons and country club dues.

Michael Goldner was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Mark A. Kearney to serve three years of probation following the prison term.

Goldner was convicted by a jury in June of failing to pay $1.8 million in taxes from 2013 to 2017, failing to report income earned in 2016 and 2017 and failing to file tax returns in 2018 and 2019.

Goldner was represented by Philadelphia attorney Mark E. Cedrone.

“Goldner’s scheme served no purpose other than to enrich himself, while cheating and stealing from the American public and the government” said Yury Kruty, IRS criminal investigation special agent in charge.

According to evidence presented at trial:

• In 2013 through 2017, Goldner reported more than $4 million in income and $1.8 million in tax due, of which he paid less than $100,000.
• From 2016 to 2020, the defendant evaded the payment of these outstanding taxes while earning a substantial income.
• Instead of depositing his paychecks into a personal bank account he cashed the checks, and used his employer’s business accounts to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars of personal expenses and to pay restitution from a prior fraud conviction for which he was on federal probation.
• For the years 2016 and 2017, the defendant filed tax returns that failed to report this additional income from his employer.
• For tax years 2018 and 2019, the defendant failed to file a return altogether.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said the American tax system funds critical government services.

“Every time someone cheats the system, the burden of providing vital services increases on taxpayers who pay their fair share," Romero said. “As a professional accountant, this defendant knew what his obligations were and willfully schemed to evade them; and for this fraud he will now spend time behind bars.”