MIAMI, Fla.— A Miami businessman who owned and operated two car rental companies has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to an employment tax crime, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO) has announced.
Ari P. Weingrad, 51, of Miami, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for willfully failing to pay over employment taxes to the IRS.
According to court documents, Weingrad owned and operated two car rental companies, Rent Max Miami Inc. and Rent Max North Inc., both of which had locations throughout Florida. As the sole owner and chief executive officer of Rent Max Miami and as the co-owner and president of Rent Max North, Weingrad reportedly knew he was responsible for collecting, accounting for, and paying over payroll taxes withheld from his employees’ wages to the IRS.
Between 2011 and 2016, however, he allegedly withheld from his employees but failed to pay approximately $850,000 in employment taxes owed to the IRS. Instead, he caused Rent Max Miami to spend corporate funds to pay discretionary expenses, including a $50,000 cashier’s check to himself, $45,000 in cashier’s checks payable to his wife, and expenses related to a 55-foot yacht, the USAO said.
According to the USAO, Weingrad had also failed to pay employment taxes for a previous business.
“In imposing a sentence at the high end of the guideline range, the Court stated that Weingrad’s failure to pay employment taxes was a serious offense that impacts employees as well,” said the USAO.
“The Court stated that the sentence needed to promote respect for the law and provide deterrence to employers.”
The Court immediately remanded the defendant into custody.
SEE RELATED STORY: Florida car rental operator pleads guilty to payroll tax crime
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg, Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line, IRS, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore.
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IRS-CI, Miami Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Patrick Elwell of the Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice, prosecuted the case.
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 at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-cr-20342.
