Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison on Tax Charges

Co–defendant, former state legislator John J. McCauley, Jr. sentenced to 27 months in federal prison

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — William L’Europa, 47, of Scituate, co–operator of McCauley and L’Europa Public Adjusters, LLC and PIA Restoration, LLC, was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to defraud the United States government and filing false tax returns.

L’Europa’s business partner, former state legislator John J. McCauley, Jr., 54, of Cranston, was sentenced on December 21, 2012, to 27 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years supervised release.

At the time of their guilty pleas before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi, who imposed the sentences, L’Europa and McCauley admitted to the court that they underreported business receipts for tax years 2007 – 2010 by nearly $1.8 million dollars, resulting in the underpayment of federal taxes to the Internal Revenue Service of more than $500,000.

According to signed plea agreements filed with the court, McCauley and L’Europa must file accurate, amended federal tax returns for tax years 2007 – 2011.

L’Europa’s sentence was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Criminal Investigation; Richard Deslauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; Guy N. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of ATF; and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Ferland and Sandra R. Hebert.

The matter was investigated by IRS–Criminal Investigation, FBI, ATF, Rhode Island State Police, and the Providence Fire Department Fire Prevention Division.