Local Businessman Sentenced to Home Confinement

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said Wednesday that Curtis B. Urps, 44, of Greenville, has been sentenced by a federal judge to 18 months home confinement, ordered to pay $872,000 in restitution, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service for failure to pay federal payroll taxes.

         

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Urps was the owner of the construction business CBU Enterprises. From January 2006 through March 2010, Urps failed to collect and pay over payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service, Nettles said 

Urps treated his painters and drywall installers as independent contractors rather than employees as they should have been classified. He did this to avoid paying federal income taxes and FICA taxes to the United States. Law enforcement estimates that during the relevant time period, Urps failed to collect and pay close to $1 million, Nettles said.         

“Employees have a right to expect their withheld employment taxes, which fund future benefits, will be paid by their employer, " said Jeannine A. Hammett Special Agent in Charge of the Charlotte Field Office. “The IRS-Criminal Investigation Division takes this type of offense seriously and will continue its efforts to protect employees by rooting out employers who violate the tax laws.”