U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced Wednesday that Josef Neuman of Lakewood admitted failing to pay over $10 million in payroll taxes stemming from his ownership of several businesses.

Before U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp, Neuman, 37, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with willful failure to make the payments for one of his businesses in 2018.

Neuman was the CEO of Lakewood-based Concord Healthcare Group LLC, which provided administrative services to operators of nursing homes and other health care facilities, including at least 20 entities co-owned or operated by him.

“As a person who controlled the companies’ financial affairs, Neuman had the responsibility to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS the companies’ payroll taxes,” according to case documents and court statements released by prosecutors. “During tax years 2017 and 2018, Neuman failed to pay over to the IRS over $10 million in payroll taxes owed by the companies. Neuman knew that payroll taxes were due and owed to the IRS at this time but continued to pay other business expenses and employee salaries, instead of the unpaid taxes, while tax liabilities continued to accrue.”

The charge to which Neuman pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 13.

See also:

• Former owner of 2 popular Newark restaurants admits tax evasion
• Union County restaurant owner admits to underreporting almost $500K in sales tax