Florida towing company owner sentenced for tax evasion

FLORIDA – The owner of a South Florida wrecker service has been sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO) has announced.

Craig Goldstein, 60, of Boca Raton, the former owner of a Lauderdale Lakes towing company, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after having pled guilty previously to three counts of tax evasion, the USAO said.

Goldstein is said to have underreported income and failed to pay federal tax on money he received through an alleged Personal Injury Protection (PIP) kickback scheme and other cash-based fraud, the USAO said.

According to the pleadings, Goldstein was an owner of West Way Towing, a Lauderdale Lakes company that towed and stored disabled vehicles, including ones involved in accidents. Goldstein allegedly referred accident victims to certain attorneys and chiropractors who would then illegally charge insurance companies for unneeded services under Florida’s PIP program.

Goldstein reportedly charged a fee for each patient referral, which he collected in cash and failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Goldstein also failed to report cash he received from vehicle storage lien fees and vehicle auctions, the sales prices of which were manipulated to falsely reflect that he made no profit, the USAO said.

According to the USO, Goldstein admitted owing the U.S. government over $130,000 in income tax.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line, IRS Criminal Investigation, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

IRS-CI, Miami Field Office, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey N. Kaplan and Paul Schwartz prosecuted it.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.