Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Arizona

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Phoenix Woman Sentenced to Over 12 Months for Failure to Pay Taxes and Wages

     PHOENIX – On Oct. 17, 2016, Ismary Diaz, 56, of Phoenix, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment. Diaz had previously pleaded guilty to willful failure to collect or pay tax and failure to pay minimum wage.

     Diaz, from at least 2009 through March, 2013, failed to file accurate tax returns, in order to hide the fact that she was illegally employing undocumented aliens in her five Phoenix area restaurants. Diaz also failed to pay her employees the federal minimum wage required by law.  Diaz failed to pay over $288,000 in taxes and over $89,000 in wages.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by a collaborative team consisting of multiple agencies, including IRS-CI, DOL, HSI, FBI and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Monica Edelstein and Robert Brooks, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-16-455-PHX-DLR   

RELEASE NUMBER:    2016-091_Diaz

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