Boca Raton developer James Batmasian sentenced to eight months for tax evasion
July 15th, 2008
By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR
A prominent Boca Raton developer and owner of a considerable number of properties, including Royal Palm Place and the Fifth Avenue Shops, has been sentenced to eight months in prison for tax evasion, a judge in U.S. District Court, West Palm Beach, ruled Friday.
Judge Kenneth Marra Friday sentenced James Batmasian, co-owner with his wife of Investments Ltd., to eight months in a minimum-security facility.
He must turn himself in to federal authorities by Sept. 30.
In April, Batmasian pleaded guilty to failing to collect and pay $253,000 in federal withholding income tax – or FICA – to employees of his company. Court officials said the charge is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
His failure to collect and pay the FICA taxes occurred between 2001 and 2003, court documents said.
Batmasian told the court he would pay the outstanding taxes and file amended tax returns for those years.
Before the sentencing, the defense asked for a more lenient term based on testimony from students, friends and Batmasian’s pastor, Ken Roughton. They said that the property owner donates to many charities, and also founded the PROPEL group that provides life skills and employment assistance to young people who have outgrown the foster care system.
At First Methodist Church Sunday morning, the minister asked the congregation to pray for Batmasian because “he is going through a difficult time.” The businessman normally brings PROPEL youngsters to church, then takes them to breakfast afterward.
Marra said he took Batmasian's "extensive good works" into account, but felt the sentence was justified.
Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.
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