The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Joins DOJ Fraud Division, IRS, and IRS-CI in National Tax Enforcement Surge

More than 30 U.S. Attorney's Offices joined the Fraud Division in bringing
enforcement actions against alleged fraudsters

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin today announced the sentencing of Edward Kuhn as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division, Internal Revenue Service, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation targeting tax fraud and related offenses. The Eastern District of Wisconsin was a key participant in this surge effort.

Between early September and today, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions against 76 criminal defendants, including approximately 31 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately 490 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers.

As part of this enforcement action, Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 18, 2026, United States District Judge Byron C. Conway sentenced Edward Kuhn (age 62) of Hilbert, Wisconsin, to 13 months' imprisonment for willfully failing to pay taxes.

According to court records, Mr. Kuhn was the owner and operator of Kuhn Salvage and Demolition based in Stockbridge, Wisconsin. Between 2020 and 2023, Mr. Kuhn withheld $194,403.56 from employees' paychecks and did not turn that money over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In total, from 2009 to 2023, Mr. Kuhn willfully failed to pay $868,175.95 in taxes he owed to the IRS.

At sentencing, Judge Conway noted that Mr. Kuhn had numerous pro-social characteristics, but that a sentence of imprisonment was necessary because of Mr. Kuhn's repeated failure to pay the payroll taxes he collected and the other taxes owed to the IRS.

"This defendant stole from his own employees, but also from every honest taxpayer," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. "Anyone who does so should expect to go to prison."

"IRS Criminal Investigation recognizes the serious consequences of employment tax evasion, from the lost tax revenue to the United States government and to the loss of future Social Security or Medicare benefits for the employees," stated Robert Kuszynski Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office. "Business owners are responsible for withholding and remitting those taxes, and failing to do so is a serious offense. IRS Criminal Investigation continues to vigorously pursue anyone who collects taxes and fails to timely remit those taxes."

This case is one example in which this office has contributed to ensuring that all Americans pay their fair share. To see the successes of other offices, please see this press release [link].

Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary J. Corey prosecuted.

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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