Maui Contractor Sentenced for State Tax Fraud

By Sonia Isotov

Judge Rhonda Loo, courtesy photo.

On Monday, Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo sentenced Paul Yokoyama and his spouse, Tanya Yokoyama for failing to file tax returns, filing false tax returns as well as tampering with a government record and theft.

According to a statement released by the Department of Taxation today, in a plea agreement that was accepted, guilty pleas were accepted for Paul Yokoyama, Tanya Yokoyama, Paul Yokoyama Inc and Paul Yokoyama Concrete LLC for various tax violations. The charges covered six years, 2003 to 2008, when the business grossed $5.7 million dollars.  No taxes were paid and records were falsified in order to obtain a tax clearance.

Paul Yokoyama and Tanya Yokoyama were ordered to be jointly and severally liable to pay restitution of $354,984. A payment of $150,000 was received at sentencing and Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo ordered the Yokoyamas to pay $41,000 a year toward their remaining tax bill of $204,984 and also ordered them to pay a fine of $45,000.

Paul Yokoyama and Tanya Yokoyama were placed on five years probation as part of their sentences.  Paul Yokoyama had pleaded guilty to two counts of willful failure to file a general excise tax return, willful failure to file a corporation income tax return, willful failure to file a withholding return, false and fraudulent individual income tax return, second-degree theft, tampering with a government record and false statement.

Paul Yokoyama Inc, pleaded guilty to willful failure to file a general excise tax return, willful failure to file a corporation income return and willful failure to file a withholding return. A guilty plea to willful failure to file a general excise tax return was entered for Paul Yokoyama Concrete LLC.

Tanya Yokoyama pleaded guilty to six counts of willful failure to file a general excise tax return, four counts of willful failure to file a corporation income tax return, four counts of willful failure to file a withholding return, five counts of false and fraudulent individual income return, two counts of second-degree theft, tampering with a government record and false statement.