BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for evading more than $431,000 in federal income taxes over the course of seven years.

Victor M. Cruz, 43, was sentenced on May 9 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to time served (10 months in prison) followed by one year of supervised release. Cruz was also ordered to pay $431,835 in restitution to the IRS. On Feb. 12, 2023, Cruz pleaded guilty to three counts of tax evasion.

From 2015 through 2017, while earning between $183,000 and $212,000 in annual wages as a crewmember for various fishing vessels, Cruz failed to file federal tax returns on his income for any of the years.

Cruz had also previously failed to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2010 through 2014 while receiving an annual income of at least $150,000.

Despite receiving at least two notices from the Internal Revenue Service directing him to file returns and pay delinquent taxes, Cruz failed to file any federal tax returns and took other measures to prevent authorities from tracing his income or determining his tax liabilities.

IRS ire: Profitable Port of New Bedford draws IRS scrutiny of tax evading fishermen

In total, Cruz evaded paying more than $431,000 in federal taxes, not including delinquency penalties and interest.United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation office in Boston, made the announcement Thursday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

IRS officials say tax compliance is almost 84% across the country but that the rate drops to 65% when it comes to the fishing industry.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford fisherman gets 10 months time served for tax evasion