Couple sentenced for not paying taxes

BALTIMORE (WMAR) - A Laurel couple will spend more than a year in prison for failing to pay more than $312,000 in taxes on their construction company income.

Ronald Dean Bateson, 53, and his wife, Cynthia, 51, were sentenced today to 15 months and 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for tax evasion.

The Batesons were also ordered to pay restitution of $312,104.

According to their plea agreements, Ronald and Cynthia owned a construction company called Bateson Construction, Inc. in Columbia. The company was a frequent subcontractor on major commercial projects.

The also owned a construction company called Bateson Construction Carolina, LLC. The couple admitted they failed to file tax returns and evaded the payment of taxes totaling $312,104 for tax years  2003 through 2007.

Between 2003 and 2005, the Batesons operated Bateson Construction and concealed their personal income by making personal expenditures directly from business accounts. For example, the couple used funds from the business accounts to purchase property in Oklahoma and materials for their home construction in Oklahoma.

They also used corporate funds to pay employees to work on their Oklahoma house.

The Batesons also charged personal items to their corporate credit cards and paid the charges with corporate funds.

It was determined that the Batesons' gross income for 2003 through 2007 was $1,401,076, making total taxes due was $312,453.