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St. Augustine Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud, Faces Prison and Massive Restitution

St. Augustine man Morgen pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return. He owes $280,910 in restitution.

September 19, 2025, 11:09 PM

A person’s hands using a calculator and a pencil, with papers on a desk

A person's hands work with a calculator and a pencil, a visual representation of the complex process of financial crimes and tax fraud. By MDL.

Executive Summary

Robert George Morgen, Jr. pleaded guilty to willfully filing a false tax return.

Morgen faces a potential sentence of up to three years in federal prison.

He has agreed to pay $280,910 in restitution to the IRS for unpaid taxes.

Laws and Precedent

The defendant pleaded guilty to willfully filing a false tax return, a federal offense prosecuted under federal tax law by an Assistant United States Attorney. This charge carries a potential sentence of up to three years in federal prison and requires restitution to the IRS for unpaid taxes, underscoring the government’s enforcement against tax fraud and willful misrepresentation of income.

A St. Augustine man, Robert George Morgen, Jr., pleaded guilty on Friday to willfully filing a false tax return, an offense that could lead to up to three years in federal prison. Morgen has also agreed to pay $280,910 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for unpaid taxes stemming from multiple years of false reporting.

Details of the Plea

According to court documents, Morgen admitted that in March 2019, he submitted a false tax return for the 2017 tax year. He acknowledged signing the document despite knowing that his reported gross receipts and income were significantly lower than his actual earnings.

The plea agreement specifies that the $280,910 owed to the IRS represents back taxes accumulated over several years of such false reporting. A sentencing date for Morgen has not yet been scheduled.

Investigation and Prosecution

The case against Morgen was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division. Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro is prosecuting the case.

Next Steps

Morgen now awaits sentencing, where the federal court will determine the final penalty for his crime, including any prison term and the enforcement of the agreed-upon restitution.