East Lyme business owner pleads guilty to federal tax charge
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A business owner in East Lyme has pleaded guilty to a tax offense after paying her employees in cash and failing to fully report their wages to the state or federal governments.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Analia Mountzoures, 48, operated Mountzoures Cleaning, employing around 10 people. She provided cleaning services to more than 200 commercial and residential clients in southeastern Connecticut.
According to court records, between 2018 and 2023, Mountzoures often paid her employees in cash, did not issue W-2 forms, did not withhold employee taxes and did not pay federal employment taxes.
She is also accused of providing her tax return preparer with false information, underreporting her gross receipts and income.
Her 2023 tax return reported gross receipts of $12,095 and total taxes before credits as $1,450. In fact, Mountzoures’ gross receipts were approximately $628,072 and the tax due was approximately $96,650, according to the prosecutors.
Mountzoures waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport. The charge, aiding and assisting a false tax return, carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for July 22. Mountzoures was released on a $40,000 bond pending sentencing.
She has agreed to pay restitution of $380,167.60 to the IRS.
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