Former CEO of Utah charity sentenced to prison for tax evasion

Defendant did not pay tax on $1.3 million paid to him in scheme with purported donor

Date: April 19, 2024

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

A Utah man was sentenced yesterday to one year and one day in prison for evading taxes on $1.3 million he was paid as part of a secret arrangement with a purported donor to the charity where he worked.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ashley Robinson, of Farmington, was the CEO of a Salt Lake City-based charity that collected and distributed medical supplies overseas. As CEO, Robinson entered into a secret arrangement with a purported donor, Gurcharan “Jazzy” Singh. Singh provided medical supplies to the charity, making it appear as if these supplies had been donated to the charity. Robinson then arranged for the charity to sell the goods to a third-party, passing most of the sale proceeds back to Singh. As compensation, Singh then paid Robinson up to 10% of the total proceeds.

From 2013 through 2019, Robinson personally received $1.3 million from this scheme. Robinson did not report this income on his federal tax returns or pay tax on it. Instead, he used the funds to pay off the mortgage on his principal residence and to buy multiple luxury vehicles, including a Maserati, a Mercedes Benz and an Audi for a co-worker.

Robinson caused a tax loss to the IRS of $485,982.

In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Jill N. Parish for the District of Utah ordered Robinson to pay approximately $485,982 in restitution to the United States.

Singh was separately prosecuted in the Central District of California and sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Boris Bourget of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan N. Reeves for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.