A New York resident was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to report more than $1.6 million in income that he embezzled from his employer, according to an announcement by Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.
Jooyeong Lee, of Westbury, New York, had previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to filing a false federal income tax return. Judge Hayden handed down the sentence on February 26, 2026.
Court documents and statements indicate that between 2015 and 2021, Lee embezzled over $1.6 million from several high-end car dealerships in New Jersey where he was employed. He did not report or pay taxes on this income when filing his tax returns during those years. The seven-year scheme resulted in a tax loss of $494,082.
Senior Counsel Lamparello acknowledged the work of special agents from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, led by Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark, for their role in investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark represented the government.
Defense counsel was Jason A. Seidman, Esq.
