A Richland man listed as the chief executive of a Neville Island marine contracting company admitted last week to tax evasion in ducking $2.6 million in taxes dating back many years.
Eli Zatezalo, 52, waived indictment by grand jury on Thursday and pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion before U.S. District Judge David Cercone.
Defendants typically waive indictment and plead to a complaint called an information when they have been cooperating with prosecutors, saving the U.S. attorney time and effort in bringing an indictment.
Zatezalo, CEO of Blake Marine Group LLC, transferred taxable income to financial accounts of others to avoid the IRS from October 2009 to January 2022, according to the plea.
Court records indicate that from Oct. 15, 2009, Zatezalo willfully attempted to avoid income taxes in the amount of $2,613,933 through several actions.
He did not file personal income tax returns since tax year 2000 and used income from Blake Marine for personal expenses. He also transferred company income to his wife toward the purchase of a house with the deed in her name. She has not been charged.
Zatezalo will be sentenced in February. He remains free on a $10,000 bond until then.
Torsten covers the courts for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Reach him at jtorsteno@gmail.com.
