Scottsdale businessman found guilty on federal tax evasion charges

PHOENIX — A Scottsdale businessman was found guilty on three counts of federal tax evasion on Friday.

Ryan C. Patterson, 33, was indicted on Sept. 7, 2021, for underreporting taxable income and signing fraudulent income tax returns, according to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court, District of Arizona.

Patterson owns a number of construction or contracting businesses in the Valley, according to the indictment, and he allegedly attempted to evade and defeat federal income taxes in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

He allegedly reported his taxable income for the calendar year of 2014 at $11,843, which was underreported by $660,296.

For 2015, he underreported his taxable income by $785,586 and then by $765,610 in 2016, according to the indictment.

In three years, Patterson avoided paying more than $775,000 in taxes, according to the indictment.

He allegedly violated Title 26, Section 7201 of the IRS tax code on all three counts, which states, “Any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any tax imposed by this title or the payment thereof shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.”

Patterson’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5.

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