MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Deena M. Hintz, 53, Eau Claire, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to a year in federal prison for willful failure to pay employment taxes. Hintz pleaded guilty to this offense on December 17, 2024.
Hintz owned and operated Jade Excavation and Trucking in Elk Mound, Wisconsin for nearly ten years. At times, Jade had up to fifteen employees who provided excavation, earth moving, and snow plowing services. Between 2017 and 2021, Hintz deducted over $400,000 in federal employment taxes from her employees’ payroll and instead of paying those taxes to the government, she kept the money for herself.
Judge Conley noted that a prison sentence was necessary to reflect the scope and gravity of the amount of money withheld and then used by Hintz and her business partner for their own benefit. Judge Conley also ordered Hintz to pay restitution for tax losses in the amount of $482,185.46.
The charge against Hintz was the result of an investigation conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Last Update: Mar 05, 2025 8:24 am CST
