By Nick Slater
Ray George, owner of Ray & Mike’s Dairy and Deli, is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17.
George, 53, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May. In 2012 George underreported his income by over $365,000 and in 2013, he underreported by nearly $275,000, according to a press release from the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. George also failed to pay approximately $220,000 in taxes.
The Federal Sentencing Guidelines suggest a sentence of 12 to 18 months for George’s offense. The Guidelines also suggest a fine between $3,000 and $30,000 and up to three years of supervised release. The Guidelines also states that, in 2018 “roughly half of all tax evaders were sentenced to probation without imprisonment.”
George is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday. The 53-year-old deli owner pleaded guilty to tax evasion in May.
In his sentencing memorandum, George’s attorney proposes a sentence less than the guidelines suggest. In fact, George’s attorney requests no sentence and no further fines, and gives multiple reasons explaining the request.
George paid the penalty for his offense, along with interest, which totaled to over $479,000, according to the defendant’s sentencing memorandum. Therefore, the attorney reasons, an additional fine is unnecessary.
Since George is a first time offender, his attorney argued that the likelihood for re-offense is low and that George is not a danger to his community. Not only did he accept responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty, he has also been cooperative with the IRS throughout the case, according to the defendant’s sentencing memorandum.
The last reason George’s attorney requests no prison sentence is because of the effect it would have on his employees. George has owned and operated the deli for almost 22 years. His employees would experience “severe financial hardship” if George was to be imprisoned, according to the memorandum.