New Bedford Fisherman Pleads Guilty to Evading More Than $400K in Federal Taxes

A New Bedford fisherman pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston this week to evading more than $431,000 in federal income taxes over the course of seven years.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Victor M. Cruz, 43, pleaded guilty to three counts of tax evasion on February 14, following his August 2021 indictment by a federal grand jury.

Cruz is said to have earned between $183,000 and $212,000 each year from 2015 through 2017 while working as a crew member on various fishing vessels, yet failed to file federal tax returns for any of those years.

It was also charged that he failed to file federal returns for tax years 2010 through 2014, while earning at least $150,000 in each of those years.

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In total, authorities say Cruz evaded paying more than $431,000 in federal taxes, not including delinquency penalties and interest. He was said to have also taken “measures to prevent authorities from tracing his income or determining his tax liabilities,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Cruz faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whatever is greater.

Cruz is scheduled for sentencing on May 9.