Scotch Plains Businessman Pleads Guilty to Underreporting $1.38 Million in Income

The owner of a Scotch Plains landscaping company will be sentenced on May 15 after he pleaded guilty of defrauding the government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in underreported income, according to release by U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

Paul Robinson, 45, the owner of P.H. Robinson Design and Landscaping Company Inc., admitted in February before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to one count of filing a false tax return. Robinson underreported $1.38 million in income, officials said.

According to court documents, Robinson maintained several different bank accounts into which he deposited P.H. Design customer monies, but only provided his accountant with records for one bank account. Robinson caused false corporate returns to be filed for P.H. Design for 2005 through 2008, and caused false personal returns to be filed for 2006 through 2008.

Under terms of the plea agreement, Robinson admitted to causing tax losses of $200,000 and $400,000. He faces a up to three years in prison and a fine of $100,000 on the filing a false tax return charges.