The former corporate officer of a produce vendor in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader for the Western District of Wisconsin.

According  to the indictment and information provided to the court, Thomas G. Paine, 64, was the Vice President and Treasurer of G.W. Paine Inc., which sold fresh fruit and other produce under the business name Tree Ripe Citrus Company.  Paine was responsible for the finance and tax aspects of the business, but failed to file corporate tax returns for tax years 2010 through 2012 and concealed the business’ income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by structuring cash bank deposits in amounts less than $10,000 to evade bank reporting requirements.  Paine admitted to causing a tax loss between $250,000 and $550,000.

U.S. District Court Judge James D. Peterson scheduled sentencing for May 8.  Paine faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.