Waukesha Co. man pleads guilty to tax fraud

WAUKESHA CO. (WITI) -- 38-year-old Michael Gengler of Mukwonago, pleaded guilty in Waukesha County Circuit Court on Thursday, August 1st to filing fraudulent Wisconsin income tax returns.

According to the criminal complaint, Gengler filed income tax returns for years 2005-2009 in May 2011 claiming he had no income and owed no income taxes during that time period. However, an investigation by the Department of Revenue showed that Gengler had actually received $517,865 in taxable income and owed $28,176 in state income taxes for those years.

The complaint alleged from 2005-2007 Gengler worked as an electrical engineer, earning $88,988 in 2005, $89,649 in 2006 and $102,969 in 2007. Gengler later worked as an electrical engineer for another employer, earning $92,807 in 2008 and $93,460 in 2009. Gengler also received $49,992 from Fidelity Investments in 2009 as a distribution from a pension or retirement fund.

Gengler was previously charged and convicted in 2009 with willful failure to file income tax returns for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 years. In November 2009, Gengler was sentenced to nine months in jail, placed on probation for two years and was ordered to file all past and future tax returns and pay all taxes previously owed.

Gengler's sentencing on this case is scheduled for November 11th. He could face up to twelve years in prison and $20,000 in fines.