New Canaan Man Sentenced For Tax Evasion: Feds

NEW CANAAN, CT — A New Canaan man was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison on Monday for tax evasion, according to a news release from Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Vishal Dhar, 56, was sentenced by US District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport. Following his prison sentence, Dhar will have two years of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Dhar formed and operated various entities, including Gray Brown, Inc., a holding company for several restaurants operating under the name “Oaxaca Taqueria,” West Partners, Inc., and NY Cloud Kitchens, LLC, Avery said.

“From approximately October 2013 through August 2023, Dhar will fully failed to disclose to the Internal Revenue Service significant income from his business and gifts from family members,” Avery added. “Instead of paying his outstanding tax liabilities, Dhar paid off personal and business debts, invested in a new business venture, and paid various personal expenses. In evading his payment of taxes owed, Dhar used financial accounts in the names of entities and other individuals rather than in his own name, paid personal expenses with corporate funds, and omitted significant assets on IRS forms.”

Additionally, in a bankruptcy case involving Gray Brown Inc., which was filed in the Southern District of New York, Dhar failed to disclose the receipt of an Employee Retention Credit check in amount of $254,203.01 made payable to Oaxaca Atlantic Avenue, LLC, Avery said .

The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the 2011 through 2020 tax years, Dhar owed $272,390.07 in back taxes, penalties, and interest, according to Avery. Dhar has paid full restitution to the IRS, and he pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024.

Dhar, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on Feb. 12, 2025.