Former Appleton Restaurant Owner Sentenced for Violating Federal Tax Laws

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The former owner of Muncheez Pizzeria in Appleton has been sentenced to six months in federal prison.

Paul Vanderlinden, 42, previously pleaded guilty to charges regarding filing a false tax return and failing to pay the Internal Revenue Service for payroll taxes.

According to court filings, Vanderlinden failed to withhold and pay $88,000 in payroll taxes between 2012 and 2016. He filed employer tax returns with false information about the wages he paid his employees.

Additionally, Vanderlinden also diverted business receipts into a personal bank account and failed to include this revenue in his tax filings. As a result, he underpaid his individual taxes by at least $30,000.

Vanderlinden has now paid more than $168,000 in restitution to the IRS.