Owner of Danbury tree service pleads guilty to Tax Evasion

Bill G. Markos, the owner of Budget Tree and Stump Removal based in Danbury, plead guilty to charges of Tax Evasion before a US District Judge in Hartford on July 1, per a press release from US District Attorney Vanessa R. Avery and Internal Revenue Service Special Agent Harry T. Chavis, Jr.

Between 2016 and 2020 Markos allegedly had customers make checks out to “cash” or in his name and then deposited them in accounts other than his official business account, or cashed out checks without depositing them in any account.

For those same years, Markos did not file income taxes, failing to pay $140,694 in taxes on approximately $517,000 in net profits according to the press release.

Additionally, Markos is said to have submitted forms when applying for pandemic relief funds that falsified tax returns for between 2016 and 2020.

Markos will be sentenced on September 7, and faces a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in prison.