Elk Mound Business Owner Sentenced for Tax Fraud

ELK MOUND, Wis. (AP) — Deena Hintz, a 53-year-old business owner from Eau Claire, was sentenced today to a year in federal prison for failing to pay over $400,000 in employment taxes. U.S. District Judge William Conley issued the sentence during a hearing in Madison.

Hintz, who owned Jade Excavation and Trucking in Elk Mound for nearly a decade, pleaded guilty to the charge on December 17, 2024. The investigation revealed that between 2017 and 2021, she deducted employment taxes from her employees’ payroll but did not remit those funds to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), instead using them for personal gain.

Judge Conley emphasized the seriousness of Hintz’s actions, noting that a prison sentence was warranted to hold her accountable for the substantial amount she withheld. He stated, “The actions of Ms. Hintz not only violate tax laws but erode trust in the business community, where employers must fulfill their obligations to employees and the government.”

In addition to the prison term, Hintz was ordered to pay restitution totaling $482,185.46 for the unpaid taxes, a decision that reflects the financial impact of her actions on the government and taxpayers.

The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation division, which aims to uphold tax compliance and curtail fraud. “This case underscores our commitment to enforcing tax law and ensuring that those who defraud taxpayers face appropriate consequences,” said IRS spokesperson Timothy O’Shea.

Hintz’s tax evasion is part of a broader pattern of enforcement actions aimed at small business owners who fail to fulfill their tax obligations. The IRS continues to prioritize investigations into similar cases across the nation to protect the integrity of the tax system.