CAUGHT IN STING, VENUE OWNER GETS PROBATION FOR TAX FRAUD
He told undercover agents profits were higher than tax returns showed.
The former owner of the Myriad Ballroom in Mendon, Mass., was sentenced to one year of probation for tax fraud.
Jon “Eddie” Rouleau, 63, was also ordered to pay a fine of $3,000.
In October 2016, Rouleau pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally aiding in the preparation of a false tax return. Rouleau also paid $103,107 in restitution to the IRS and a civil fraud penalty of $59,494.
Rouleau and his father owned and operated the Myriad Ballroom for decades until he sold the business and property in 2014.
The investigation tax began in 2013 when Rouleau advertised the Myriad Ballroom for sale.
The Myriad Ballroom, which could accommodate up to 600 guests in a serene setting near a lake, hosted weddings, corporate events and parties. Party planners had the choice between a grand ballroom or an outdoor pavilion.
During an undercover investigation, Rouleau told government agents, who posed as potential buyers, that the annual gross receipts and profits of the ballroom were significantly greater than reported on the ballroom’s tax returns.
