By: Richard L. Smith
A New York man has been sentenced to prison after admitting he failed to report more than $1.6 million in income he embezzled from high-end automobile dealerships in New Jersey.
According to information sent by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Jooyeong Lee, of Westbury, New York, was sentenced on March 2, 2026, to 18 months in federal prison for filing a false federal income tax return.
Lee previously pleaded guilty to the charge before Katharine S. Hayden in federal court in Newark, New Jersey. Judge Hayden imposed the sentence following the guilty plea.
Court records show that between approximately 2015 and 2021, Lee embezzled more than $1.6 million while employed at several luxury car dealerships in New Jersey.
Prosecutors said Lee failed to disclose the stolen money when filing his federal income tax returns, allowing him to avoid paying taxes on the funds.
Authorities determined that over the seven-year period, the unreported income resulted in a tax loss to the government totaling $494,082.
Federal officials said the case highlights the consequences of failing to report income and violating federal tax laws.