Virginia man sentenced on tax evasion charges

On July 17, 2020, in Richmond, VA, Vosean Smyre was sentenced to 14 months in prison for evading taxes that were due to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Smyre was also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $368,233.52. Smyre pled guilty to tax evasion charges on March 16, 2020.

“Living a prosperous lifestyle through fraudulent means has consequences,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson. “We will continue to investigate tax cheats who purposely evade their responsibility to pay taxes due and make sure they are held accountable.”

According to court documents, from 2012 through 2015, Smyre’s employment relationships with several Virginia youth counseling businesses, including Changing Faces Youth Services (CFYS), Focus on Youth Mentoring Services (FYMS), Edgewood Group Family Services (EGFS), and Global Interventions (GI), generated a significant amount of income for him. When it came time to file tax returns, Smyre chose to conceal portions or all of the funds he received and/or failed to file a tax return entirely, resulting in Smyre significantly underreporting his income each year to the IRS.

Smyre attempted to conceal his income from these businesses by withdrawing funds for personal expenses from the business bank account of GI and from the business accounts of Smyre’s own businesses CFYS and FYMS. Smyre also made cash payments to himself from business bank accounts belonging to several businesses, including CFYS, FYMS, and EGFS. Further, Smyre neglected to provide his accountant with the Schedule K-1 prepared by CFYS accountant, which reflected the additional income Smyre received in the amount of $26,743 in 2013 and $56,768 in 2014.

Smyre lived an affluent, cash-purchase intensive lifestyle, with expenditures for private schooling for family members, luxury automobiles- including a Jaguar XL, entertainment and travel, and renting and/or owning multiple residences.