Date: May 3, 2022 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov On Friday, Craig Goldstein, of Boca Raton, Florida the owner of a Lauderdale Lakes towing company, pled guilty to three counts of Tax Evasion for underreporting income and failing to pay federal tax on money he received through a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) kickback scheme and other cash-based fraud. The sentencing has been set for August 16. As part of his change of plea, Goldstein admitted the following: He was an owner of West Way Towing, a Lauderdale Lakes company that towed -- and stored at its yard -- disabled vehicles, including ones involved in accidents. Goldstein referred accident victims to certain attorneys and chiropractors who would then illegally charge insurance companies for unneeded services under Florida's Personal Injury Protection Program. Goldstein charged a fee for each patient referral, which he collected in cash and failed to report to the IRS, according to the charges. Goldstein also failed to report cash he received from vehicle storage lien fees and from auctions of vehicles the sales prices of which were manipulated to falsely reflect that Goldstein made no profit, says the information. Goldstein faces up to 15 years' imprisonment and a fine up to $750,000. Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Matthew D. Line, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Miami Field Office, made the announcement. IRS Miami Field Office investigated this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey N. Kaplan and Paul Schwartz.
