[US] Construction boss facing prison over payroll tax and fraud charges

[US] Construction boss facing prison over payroll tax and fraud charges
01 Aug 2025

In the US, a Bronx-based construction boss faces the prospect of prison after being charged with failing to pay years of employee payroll taxes, scheming to defraud a construction contractor of millions of dollars, and aggravated identity theft, Global Construction Review reports.

According to the Inland Revenue Service (IRS), Nigel Kenneth Joseph, the founder of masonry subcontractor BWK, was arrested on July 22 and now faces a 14-count complaint.

Harry T. Chavis Jr, head of field investigation in New York for the IRS-Criminal Investigation, detailed the allegations. He said Mr Joseph had shortchanged his workers, “lied about it, falsified records and pocketed the money for himself”. 

The IRS reportedly alleges that this entailed defrauding the IRS of payroll taxes.

Mr Chavis said, “When a person purportedly leases luxury vehicles, buys NBA tickets and travels to tropical islands instead of paying payroll taxes for his employees, it is the American people who are victimised.”

Mr Joseph founded BWK in 2019. Between 2019 and 2021, BWK earned at least $10m for jobs carried out in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

An IRS analysis of financial records revealed that Mr Joseph failed to pay at least $2.9m in payroll taxes and approximately $750,000 he owed as an employer.

He allegedly used BWK funds to enrich his wife, buy courtside basketball tickets and a Rolex, lease luxury cars, and take Caribbean holidays, instead of paying the taxes due.

In addition, it is reportedly alleged that Mr Joseph directed the production of falsified certified payroll documents in order to obtain approximately $1.96m in payments for projects on Long Island.

Mr Joseph is charged with 11 counts of failure to account for and pay over payroll taxes, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.

The IRS stated that the charges contained in the complaint are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

Source: Global Construction Review

(Link and quote via original reporting)

 

In the US, a Bronx-based construction boss faces the prospect of prison after being charged with failing to pay years of employee payroll taxes, scheming to defraud a construction contractor of millions of dollars, and aggravated identity theft, Global Construction Review reports.

According to the Inland Revenue Service (IRS), Nigel Kenneth Joseph, the founder of masonry subcontractor BWK, was arrested on July 22 and now faces a 14-count complaint.

Harry T. Chavis Jr, head of field investigation in New York for the IRS-Criminal Investigation, detailed the allegations. He said Mr Joseph had shortchanged his workers, “lied about it, falsified records and pocketed the money for himself”. 

The IRS reportedly alleges that this entailed defrauding the IRS of payroll taxes.

Mr Chavis said, “When a person purportedly leases luxury vehicles, buys NBA tickets and travels to tropical islands instead of paying payroll taxes for his employees, it is the American people who are victimised.”

Mr Joseph founded BWK in 2019. Between 2019 and 2021, BWK earned at least $10m for jobs carried out in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

An IRS analysis of financial records revealed that Mr Joseph failed to pay at least $2.9m in payroll taxes and approximately $750,000 he owed as an employer.

He allegedly used BWK funds to enrich his wife, buy courtside basketball tickets and a Rolex, lease luxury cars, and take Caribbean holidays, instead of paying the taxes due.

In addition, it is reportedly alleged that Mr Joseph directed the production of falsified certified payroll documents in order to obtain approximately $1.96m in payments for projects on Long Island.

Mr Joseph is charged with 11 counts of failure to account for and pay over payroll taxes, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.

The IRS stated that the charges contained in the complaint are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

Source: Global Construction Review

(Link and quote via original reporting)