Minnesota Owner of Lighting Installation Business Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

A Minnesota man pleaded guilty yesterday for attempting to evade his federal income taxes by submitting an incomplete bankruptcy filing.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2000 until 2023, Robert Schlosser, of Prior Lake, owned and operated a business that installs Christmas lighting, special event lighting and decoration displays for its customers.

In 2018, Schlosser filed for bankruptcy and listed the IRS as a creditor for his unpaid federal income taxes.

As part of the bankruptcy, Schlosser was required to sign and file, under penalty of perjury, a bankruptcy petition and schedules providing information regarding his assets, income and other financial affairs.

Schlosser attempted to evade the payment of his delinquent taxes by filing false bankruptcy schedules that concealed assets to hinder IRS collection efforts.

In total, Schlosser admitted that his conduct resulted in a tax loss to the IRS of $429,848.

Schlosser faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

He also faces a period of supervised release and monetary penalties.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.

S.

Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M.

Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Thomas Flynn and Samuel Robins of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Colin Kreuziger of the U.

S.

Trustee Program.

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