Former owner of trucking firm is sentenced to 33 months in prison for tax evasion

Clifford Copp, the former owner of a trucking company in Kansas City, Kan., has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $939,408 in restitution for federal income tax evasion.

Copp, of Overland Park, owned Copp Trucking Co.

He pleaded guilty last weekto one count of tax evasion, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Kansas. In his plea, Copp admitted to filing reports to the Internal Revenue Service in 2001 that indicated the company owed about $939,408 in employment taxes that year.

However, federal investigators said, the company did not pay the employment taxes due.

Investigators said that in February 2004, Copp was assessed recovery penalties of $669,037. When the IRS began collection efforts, Copp concealed his income, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Copp allegedly filed a false statement to the IRS that concealed his ownership of assets, including livestock, life insurance and farm equipment. He also concealed his ownership interest in a company called Wildcat Limo LLC, the government said.

The Star

This story was originally published September 12, 2016 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Former owner of trucking firm is sentenced to 33 months in prison for tax evasion."