PHILADELPHIA, PA — Agostino Perna, a co-owner of Life Quest, a company engaged in the sale of body parts for medical purposes, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by six months of home confinement. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl on Monday, following Perna’s guilty plea in 2023 for his role in filing false corporate and personal tax returns. Additionally, Perna is required to pay a $25,000 fine and $455,463 in restitution.
The investigation, led by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), revealed that from 2014 to 2019, Perna consistently underreported income for Life Quest by concealing significant gross receipts from certain clients, amounting to $332,157, which he diverted for his personal use. This act of concealment extended to his business partner and the company’s accountant, undermining the transparency required for accurate tax reporting.
Moreover, Perna’s personal tax returns during the same period were found to be equally deceptive. He failed to report over $300,000 diverted from Life Quest customer payments, more than $250,000 received from other businesses through reimbursement schemes, approximately $632,000 of additional business income disguised as “loan repayments,” and over $80,000 in rental income from properties he owned.
The sentencing comes at a critical time, coinciding with the annual deadline for tax filings in the United States, and serves as a potent illustration of the federal government’s commitment to enforcing tax laws. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero emphasized the reliance of the U.S. tax system on the honesty and integrity of its citizens to fulfill their tax obligations, noting that failure to do so undermines the funding of essential government services.
Yury Kruty, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge, highlighted the significance of corporate and personal income taxes as vital sources of funding for programs like Social Security and Medicare. The aggressive pursuit of tax evaders remains a top priority for the IRS-CI to ensure compliance and uphold the integrity of the tax system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric D. Gill, marking a successful collaboration between the IRS-CI and the United States Attorney’s Office in protecting public finance and maintaining the rule of law in tax matters.
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