A Cary businessman has been sentenced to over three years in prison for a tax evasion scheme that raked in more than $1 million, according to federal prosecutors. Arturo Barcenas Gonzalez, who operated multiple businesses including an insurance agency and a financial services company, will also have three years of supervised release following his prison term. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay an undetermined amount of restitution to the IRS.
U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. expressed the severity of the case, saying, "This businessman’s convoluted scheme involved titling cars for cash and using that cash to creatively conceal his income and fuel a lifestyle complete with high-end vehicles and a million-dollar home." After a search warrant was executed in May 2023 at Barcenas’s business premises, federal agents discovered documents revealing significant tax evasion, as per the U.S Attorney's Office.
Barcenas, who ran Barcenas Insurance Agency, LLC (BIA) and Barcenas Financial Services, LLC (BFS), used these entities to commit his fraudulent activities. BIA was found to register and title vehicles for undocumented individuals, using fraudulent business names and certificates, while BFS prepared federal and state tax returns. According to U.S Attorney's Office court documents, Barcenas concealed over $300,000 in business revenue on his 2017 federal income tax return and stopped filing tax returns after 2018, despite annual receipts exceeding $1 million.
Michael F. Easley, Jr. commented on the collaborative effort involving state and federal agencies, stating, "We are turbocharging white collar enforcement in North Carolina with groundbreaking state and federal partnerships." The case was put together with the cooperation of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the NC Department of Insurance, and the NC Division of Motor Vehicles. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case, leading to Barcenas's conviction and sentencing by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan, as stated by the U.S Attorney's Office.
