Tax evasion lands EDC man in prison
Briant Benson, 59, of El Dorado Hills, was sentenced Dec. 2 to one year and one day in prison for tax evasion,
According to court documents, during the years 2004 through 2006, Benson failed to file tax returns or pay any personal income tax to the Internal Revenue Service, despite receiving at least $2 million in income as the president and CEO of multiple medical device companies.
Benson used corporate funds to purchase multimillion dollar homes, buy hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry and furniture, and pay for lavish travel accommodations such as luxury hotels, private jets, and limousines. Benson also used corporate funds to pay over half a million dollars in gambling debt.
Benson’s failure to report his personal income and pay taxes due and owing on that income resulted in a tax loss of at least $249,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office
— Lake Tahoe News staff report