TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 2, 2014) - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that for the period between March 2014 and November 2014, 13 Ontario residents were sentenced for failing to file corporate, personal and/or GST/HST returns. The courts levied a total of $88,200 in fines, 150 days of conditional sentencing and ordered that all returns be filed. This includes 90 days of house arrest for Sandy Vogan, a repeat offender. In particular, the following individuals pleaded guilty and were sentenced for failing to file tax returns:
| Name of taxpayer | Total Fine | Name of taxpayer | Total Fine | |
| Keith Blackwell of Etobicoke | $10,000 | Deborah Laporte of Mississauga | $3,300 | |
| Donald Bodkin of Toronto | $14,400 | Peter McCallion of Mississauga | $15,000 | |
| Carlos Canejo of Mississauga | $10,000 | Richard Meyers of Mississauga | $4,500 | |
| David Carroll of Spencerville | $4,000 | Michael Oana of Mississauga | $8,000 | |
| Patrick Clifford of Etobicoke | $1,000 | Christian Secker of Mississauga | $4,000 | |
| Eric Guevara of Etobicoke | $6,000 | Dwight Silva of Waterloo | $3,000 | |
| Sandy Vogan of Shedden | $5,000 | |||
The preceding information was obtained from the court records.
"Canadian taxpayers must have confidence in the fairness of the tax system," said Vince Pranjivan, Assistant Commissioner of the Ontario Region. "To maintain that confidence, the Canada Revenue Agency is determined to hold those who fail to file their returns accountable for their actions."
When individuals or corporations are convicted of failing to file tax returns, in addition to any fines imposed by the courts, they are still obligated to file the tax return and pay the full amount of taxes owing, plus interest, as well as any civil penalties that may be assessed by the CRA.
If you have ever made a tax mistake or omission, the CRA is offering you a second chance to make things right through its Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP). If you make a valid disclosure before you become aware that the CRA is taking action against you, you may only have to pay the taxes owing plus interest. More information on the VDP can be found on the CRA's website at www.cra.gc.ca/voluntarydisclosures.
Further information on convictions can be found in the Media Room on the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/convictions.
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