Scottsdale businessman indicted on federal tax evasion charges

PHOENIX – A Scottsdale businessman was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on three charges of tax evasion.

Ryan C. Patterson, 33, allegedly underreported his taxable income for three years to avoid paying more than $775,000 in taxes, according to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court, District of Arizona.

The indictment says Patterson has owned or operated a number of construction or contracting businesses and has also been involved in flipping homes.

In his 2014 return, he allegedly reported $11,843 in taxable income with $4,866 due in taxes. The indictment says his actual income was more than $660,000 higher than reported, with taxes that should have been about $205,000 higher than reported.

For 2015, he allegedly reported $15,211 in taxable income with $6,122 due in taxes. The indictment says his actual income was around $800,000, with taxes that should have been about $300,000 higher than reported.

For 2016, he allegedly reported zero taxable income with $2,116 due in taxes. The indictment says his actual income was nearly $720,000, with taxes that should have been about $272,000 higher than reported.

Each count says Patterson “did willfully attempt to evade and defeat the income tax by due by committing affirmative acts of evasion” such as asking clients to make payments with checks in his name and depositing them into personal bank accounts instead of business accounts.

His arraignment is set for Sept. 22 in Phoenix before Magistrate Judge Michael T. Morrissey.

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