United States of America v. John Zourdos, Helen Zourdos and Dimitrios Zourdos

Utica, New York criminal defense lawyers represented defendants charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and attempting to evade or defeat the payment of taxes.



In November 2021, John Zourdos, his wife Helen Zourdos and their son Dimitrios Zourdos, all of Rome, were each convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to defraud the United States, tax evasion and helping to file false corporate tax returns. U.S. District Court Judge David N. Hurd sentenced John Zourdos to 30 months in prison, Helen Zourdos to 20 months in prison and Dimitrios Zourdos to 10 months in prison.



John, Helen and Dimitrios operated three Dippin Donuts coffee and donut shops with locations in Rome and New Hartford. From 2012 to 2017, the defendants concealed from the IRS approximately $4.5 million in cash sales. During that period, they evaded more than $2 million in individual and corporate taxes by, among other things, depositing cash directly into their personal bank accounts instead of into business bank accounts, providing incomplete information to their accountants, causing their accountants to file false individual and corporate tax returns with the IRS, and funding personal expenditures directly with undeposited and unreported cash. They used unreported income to fund a lavish lifestyle that included multiple luxury vehicles, expensive watches, investment accounts and real estate. They also paid some employees "off the books” cash wages for overtime hours, and paid other employees entirely in "off the books” cash.



Judge Hurd ordered each defendant to serve three years of supervised release and to pay more than $2 million in restitution to the United States.



IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.



Assistant Chief John N. Kane of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry for the Northern District of New York prosecuted the case.

Upon Defendant John Zourdoss conviction by jury trial to Counts 1-15 of Indictment 5:20-CR-298, and upon the Courts granting of a non-guideline sentence, Defendant is committed to the custody of the BOP to be imprisoned for a term of 30 MONTHS on each Count to be served concurrently. The Court recommends RDAP while in custody and that defendant be housed in a facility close to Rome, NY. 3 YEAR term of Supervised Release on each of Counts 1 through 8, and 1 YEAR term of Supervised Release on each of Count 9 through 15, with all terms to be served concurrently, with standard and special conditions is imposed. Defendant John Zourdos shall pay restitution in the amount of $2,000,769.00 to the Internal Revenue Service. Restitution is due immediately and shall be paid jointly and severally with defendants Helen and Dimitrios Zourdos. No Fine is imposed. Special Assessment: $1500.00 due and payable immediately.