Man sentenced in tax-evasion case

Staff report

CLEVELAND

A Poland man who pleaded guilty to violating federal tax laws has been sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months of electronically monitored house arrest.

Paul G. Churlik, who pleaded guilty to three counts of income-tax evasion and four counts of making false claims for federal income tax refunds, will also be on probation for three years after prison.

U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin, who imposed the sentence Tuesday, also said Chulik must cooperate fully with the IRS in the assessment and payment of all taxes, penalties and interest due. Judge Gwin could have sentenced Churlik to up to five years in prison.

Churlik admitted failing to file federal income tax returns for 2004-06 and causing his employer not to withhold those taxes from his wages during those years by giving his employer a false IRS W-4 form.

During those years, Churlik had combined taxable income of $294,345, on which he owed $30,576 that he failed to report or pay to the IRS. Churlik also admitted he falsely claimed refunds for 2006-09, with the four false claims totaling $42,432.

Churlik, who has no prior criminal record, will be told by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and the U.S Marshals Service when and where he must self-report to federal prison.

The judge imposed the prison time on Churlik despite letters urging leniency in sentencing from Churlik’s employer and from Churlik’s wife, Barbara.