A construction company big shot from Medford has copped to swindling Uncle Sam out of almost $3 million bucks and fibbing about a worker's death. Mauricio Baiense, the former head honcho of Contract Framing Builders, Inc. in Quincy, admitted in court last week to cooking the books and lying under oath about a fatal accident on the job.
In a serious tax dodge, Baiense managed to shirk piles of cash he owed the IRS from 2013 to 2017, using a shady scheme to to basically run an illegal cash payroll. According to the Justice Department's announcement, Baiense pocketed around $11 million by funneling company cash through fake subcontractors he controlled, dodging taxes on wages paid to his workers in cold hard cash.
The former construction boss faces a serious stretch behind bars for his crimes — up to five years for the conspiracy charge. Each count of tax evasion could also land him up to five more years, while he could be looking at another three years for helping to prepare a phony tax return. As for the lies he told about the deceased worker, that could get him up to five more years tacked on.
When the Department of Labor was digging into a deadly accident at Baiense's site, the guy tried to cover his tracks. He blatantly lied, claiming the victim wasn't one of his employees. The Justice Department notes the deceit unfolded during questioning at an Occupational Safety and Health Administration hearing, with Baiense making the false statements to a federal investigator.
Baiense's sentencing is set for July 19, 2024, leaving him a few months to ponder his choices. The Acting U.S. Attorney, IRS, and Labor Department bigwigs are all involved in prosecuting the case, making it clear they're not taking kindly to his type of business 'savvy'.
