Massachusetts
Massachusetts exec busted for allegedly cheating the IRS, getting paid under the table
A former local exec is accused of cheating the IRS by getting paid more than $1.6 million in compensation and fringe benefits under the table.
Marlboro man Stephen Hochberg, 77 — who was an accounting and real estate executive in Sudbury — was recently charged by the feds. He has agreed to plead guilty to perpetrating the multi-year scheme.
Hochberg, who was previously convicted of wire fraud and securities fraud, is also accused of lying to the U.S. Attorney’s Office about his income to avoid paying restitution he owed to victims of the earlier fraud scheme.
According to the feds, Hochberg and his business partner Charles Katz agreed as early as 2014 to cheat the IRS.
They allegedly agreed that Hochberg — who was the director of corporate services at Katz’s accounting firm and the COO at Katz’s real estate firm — would be paid significant compensation off the books so that Hochberg would have tax-free income.
Also, this scheme would mean that Katz’s firms – CD Katz LLC and Gebsco Realty Corporation – would have lower employment taxes.
Over time, Katz allegedly paid Hochberg’s family, provided rent-free housing to Hochberg’s ex-wife, paid college tuition for his children, and paid personal expenses that Hochberg and his ex-wife charged on corporate credit cards.
Katz allegedly paid Hochberg at least $1,668,487 in unreported income, and avoided taxes of at least $835,105.
In 2008, Hochberg was convicted of eight counts of wire fraud and nine counts of securities fraud. He was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison, and he was ordered to pay almost $1.8 million to his victims.
In addition to his and Katz’s scheme, he allegedly lied to the U.S. Attorney’s Office about his income from Katz’s firms and obstructed the collection of restitution he owed victims.
Hochberg was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and with obstruction of justice.
He will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Dec. 11.
Katz was charged and agreed to plead guilty in October. The court accepted his plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for Feb. 2.
Fire broke out at an apartment building in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, sending a column of smoke high into the air.
NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports the smoke was visible from miles away from the building on Juniper Road.
More details were not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.
The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.
State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.
The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.
In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.
Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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