A CPA based in Dayton, Ohio, faces a maximum of six years in prison for preparing tax returns for the business people associated with the Cadillac Ranch restaurants that failed to report income. Larry Couchot faces three years and $250,000 in fines on each of two charges of preparing false individual tax returns.Couchot, who pleaded guilty, also faces one year of supervised release on each of the two counts. Couchot is a partner in the firm, Couchot, Hogenkamp, Seving & Mosier, based in Centerville, Ohio. The restaurant associates, Jon Field and Paul Butler of Dublin, Ohio, and Eric Schilder of Marion, Ohio, pleaded guilty to tax charges related to the restaurant.
The accountant admitted he was aware the individuals used company money to pay for personal expenses, including payments for their personal cars, car insurance, country club dues, personal credit card charges and their individual income tax liabilities. Couchot admitted to preparing returns that failed to report these items as income of the returns of two of the men.
Charges including reporting a return for 2007 for Schilder that reported $68,000 in income, although company records showed he earned $129,000. Couchot also created a summary to support the return he had prepared .