U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery | U.S. Department of Justice
Evan Bobzin, a 39-year-old resident of Chester, has been sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a $2 million embezzlement scheme. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.
Bobzin, who worked at Hoffman's Gun Center in Newington since July 2013 and later became the head of information technology, began stealing cash receipts from the company's safe starting in January 2016. He executed the thefts by disconnecting security cameras and depositing stolen money into his personal bank accounts.
Between 2016 and 2023, Bobzin and his former spouse deposited nearly $1.9 million into their accounts through 287 transactions. They also made seven purchases of cashier's checks totaling over $161,000. In October 2022, after being warned about structuring transactions to avoid bank reporting requirements, Bobzin switched banks but continued making structured deposits.
The scheme resulted in a tax loss of $436,178 to the IRS as Bobzin failed to report the stolen income on his federal tax returns from 2016 to 2022. For instance, he reported an income of $9,914 for the year 2020 while omitting approximately $432,615.
Bobzin pleaded guilty on August 29, 2024, to charges of interstate transmission of stolen money and tax evasion. Judge Dooley has ordered him to pay restitution amounting to $2,062,580 and cooperate with the IRS for taxes owed.
Bobzin is currently released on a $50,000 bond and must report to prison on January 6. The investigation was led by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.
Vanessa Roberts Avery stated: "This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division."
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