Employee at High-End Car Dealerships Sentenced for Tax Fraud

NEWARK, N.J. - A New York man was sentenced on March 2, 2026, to 18 months in prison for failing to report over $1.6 million in income on his federal income tax returns that he embezzled from his employer, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced.

Jooyeong Lee of Westbury, New York previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging him with filing a false federal income tax return. Judge Hayden imposed the sentence.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From approximately 2015 through 2021, Lee embezzled over $1.6 million from various high-end car dealerships in New Jersey where he worked. When he filed his tax returns, Lee failed to report or pay tax on the funds as income. Over seven years, Lee caused a tax loss of $494,082.

Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation that led to the sentencing in this case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Jason A. Seidman, Esq.