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Man, 70, Receives Year And A Day In Prison For Tax Fraud

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By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

TAMPA - A 70-year-old man was sentenced Friday to a year and a day in prison for filing false tax returns when he was the proprietor of a lingerie modeling business.

U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich ruled that Robert J. Sass must also serve a year of supervised release and pay the Internal Revenue Service $62,695 in outstanding taxes, IRS spokesman Norm Meadows said.

Sass, of Tampa, was indicted in April 2005 on federal tax fraud charges, according to court records. He was indicted on two counts of failing to file a 1040 tax form in 2000 and 2001 on about $150,000 in income, Meadows said. Sass was also indicted on two counts of filing false corporate returns for his business for those same years, Meadows said.
Sass was the owner of Sophisticats Inc., a lingerie modeling business that was on Kennedy Boulevard at Dale Mabry Highway, Meadows said. In 2004, Sass was charged with facilitating prostitution, aiding and abetting prostitution and living on the proceeds of prostitution, court records show.
Sophisticats models accepted cash or credit cards and paid a $30 room fee for each engagement on Sass' premises, Meadows said. The models were also charged credit card handling fees, Meadows said.

"Illegally derived income is taxable," Meadows said.

Kovachevich considered Sass' age, deteriorating health and a lack of criminal history in determining his sentence, Meadows said. Walter B. Ruiz, Sass' attorney, said his client suffers from hypertension, depression and pain in his back and legs, among other ailments.
Sass has 60 days to put his affairs in order and surrender to the U.S. Marshal's Office, Meadows said.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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