
On Sept. 16, 2014, in Denver, Colorado, Mathew Zuckerman, of Woody Creek, Colorado, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $693,706 in restitution to the IRS. Zuckerman’s wife, Sandra Zuckerman was sentenced to 36 months’ probation and was jointly liable for $112,511 of the restitution. Mathew Zuckerman pleaded guilty on Feb. 18, 2014, to income tax evasion and Sandra Zuckerman pleaded guilty on May 30, 2014, to willful failure to pay income taxes. According to court documents, beginning in 1986 and continuing through 2009, the Zuckermans either failed to file an income tax return, or filed a return using incorrect income amounts. Matthew Zuckerman concealed his assets and business affairs from the IRS by utilizing corporations and trusts in order to avoid payment and collection of the Zuckerman’s outstanding tax liabilities. In 1999, the Zuckermans caused the deed to their Woody Creek residence, purchased for approximately $1.2 million, to be recorded in the name of a Nevada corporation that listed the names of a cat and a dog as its officers and directors. Similarly, in 2004 Mathew Zuckerman formed a company in Nevada that was used to purchase a $1.8 million home in 2004. Furthermore, in December 2004, Mathew Zuckerman formed and used a trust to receive profits in excess of $500,000 while evading payments of taxes owed to the IRS.