Two Roofing Company Owners Indicted for Multi-Year Tax Evasion Scheme

Federal prosecutors allege the men concealed over $2 million in income from roofing clients and defrauded the IRS using false Social Security numbers.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Two men who operated roofing businesses in New Jersey and New York have been indicted on federal charges of tax evasion after allegedly failing to report more than $2 million in income to the Internal Revenue Service over a four-year period.

Steve Mitchell, also known as “Sonny Mitchell,” of Edison, New Jersey, and Samuel Mitchell of Bohemia, New York, were each charged with four counts of tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. The charges stem from conduct that occurred between 2018 and 2021.

According to federal court filings, the two defendants operated roofing businesses under various names and received substantial payments from clients—approximately $881,730.26 for Steve Mitchell and $1,397,960.21 for Samuel Mitchell. Prosecutors allege that neither man filed tax returns nor paid taxes on this income. Instead, they are accused of concealing their earnings by using false Social Security numbers at check-cashing businesses, thereby avoiding IRS income reporting requirements.

In addition to income from roofing clients, Steve Mitchell is alleged to have received more than $4.2 million from an elderly individual under the pretense of investing in a COVID-related mask production venture. That money was also reportedly converted into cash.

Each count of tax evasion carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark.

As with all criminal charges, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.