Hornell restaurant owner faces possible prison sentence, fine after plea to tax charge

A Hornell restaurant owner has pleaded guilty to a federal tax charge.

Theodore LaFrance of Hornell faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine for providing false information about wages paid to employees at T&J Country Kitchen between 2014 and 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York said Monday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire said LaFrance did not report some $235,500 in cash paid to cooking and cleaning staff at the 7423 Seneca Road North restaurant, costing the IRS about $36,000.

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the Country Kitchen provided inaccurate information to Staff Leasing Inc., which the business had hired to provide payroll services for the restaurant and to complete and file quarterly 941 forms for the IRS.

Federal officials said LaFrance’s plea followed an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.

U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford will sentence LaFrance on Jan. 10, 2024.

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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell restaurant owner pleads guilty to tax fraud charge