Houston businessman admits to failing to pay over eight million dollars in employment taxes and using daughter’s name to mislead IRS
Houston, Texas – A Harris County man has pleaded guilty to serious federal tax offenses after failing to report and pay millions of dollars in employment taxes over several years. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Joseth “Joe” Limon, the owner and operator of Platinum Employment Group Inc., provided laborers to companies across the Houston area. From 2013 through 2018, Limon’s company failed to file required employment tax returns. Payroll records later revealed that Platinum owed more than $8.8 million in taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.
When Limon closed Platinum Employment Group, he launched a new labor staffing company called Rockwell Staffing LLC. However, instead of placing the business under his own name, he registered it under the name of his 18-year-old daughter.
When the IRS began pursuing employment tax liabilities from Rockwell, Limon responded by orchestrating a scheme to mislead federal authorities. He “caused his daughter to submit an affidavit that falsely claimed Rockwell had been a victim of identity theft and had no employment-tax liability.”
Limon’s fraudulent efforts did not go unnoticed. He now faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a potential fine of at least $250,000. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal is scheduled to hand down the sentence on August 6.
For now, Limon has been allowed to remain on bond while he awaits sentencing.
The investigation was led by IRS Criminal Investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh and Trial Attorney Curtis Weidler of the Department of Justice Tax Division.
