Warren attorney to be confined a year for not paying income tax

The attorney’s tax returns were completed but not filed, the government says.

CLEVELAND — A Warren attorney who, a federal prosecutor says, bought cars and a boat rather than paying his taxes was sentenced to a year of confinement.

Atty. John Large, of North Road, was sentenced Friday afternoon by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth McHargh to six months in a halfway house. This will be followed by six months of house arrest and four years’ probation.

He also is required to pay $80,077 in back taxes.

Large pleaded guilty in June to four misdemeanor counts of failing to file income tax returns for four years.

He faced a maximum four years in prison. The U.S. attorney’s office sought 12 to 18 months in prison, and Large sought probation.

Large remains licensed to practice law, however, and an Ohio Supreme Court spokesman said Friday that he could not discuss if Large is being investigated by the court.

In a sentencing memorandum, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann C. Rowland said that Large should be held to a higher standard because of his profession, and if he is granted probation, “the public will loose respect for the law.”

Where money went

In the meantime, Rowland pointed out, Large bought a $14,000 car in January 2001, a $10,000 boat in July 2002 and a 1989 Jaguar for $18,000 in November 2002. He sold the Jaguar in 2004 for $12,000 but didn’t use any of the money to pay his taxes.

“Simple greed must have been the defendant’s motive in not filing,” Rowland wrote.

According to the document, Large had prepared his returns for 2000 to 2003 and had an accountant prepare his 2004 and 2006 returns but didn’t file them until he was confronted by the IRS in April.

During those years, the government said, Large did not report more than $425,000 in income.

In seeking probation, Large argued that the IRS will pursue its loss civilly. He admitted his misconduct and immediately filed his returns, cooperated in the investigation and has no criminal record.