Brielle's Bogans Guilty Of Tax Evasion

A father and daughter who own and operate Bogan’s Deep Sea Fishing Center in Brielle on Wednesday admitted in federal court to failing to report or pay income taxes on a large portion of the money they took in while running their business, authorities said.

William H. Bogan Sr., 76, and his daughter, Sharon Bogan, 47, each pleaded guilty to charges of income tax evasion before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson, sitting in Trenton.

Bogan Sr. and Sharon Bogan, owners of several charter fishing boats and river cruising boats located in Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach, failed to report large portions of income earned for five years, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

From 2004 through 2009, the Bogans kept for their personal use a large portion of the business receipts received by their charter fishing and river cruising boats – primarily payments in the form of cash and checks made out to “Captain Bogan” – and failed to report these receipts on their respective personal income tax returns, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

William Bogan admitted that in 2006 alone, he failed to report more than $300,000 in income he diverted from the charter fishing and river cruising boats. William Bogan further admitted that he maintained a “second set of books,” which was recovered by special agents of the IRS during a search of his personal residence and which he used to record the amount of income he received but did not report to the IRS, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The charge of tax evasion carries a maximum prison term of 5 years. Sentencing for both of the Bogans is scheduled for Oct. 4, the U.S. Attorney said.