A New York resident was sentenced to 18 months in prison on February 26, 2026, for failing to report more than $1.6 million in income that he embezzled from his employers at high-end car dealerships in New Jersey. The sentencing was announced by Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.
Jooyeong Lee, of Westbury, New York, had previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to filing a false federal income tax return. Judge Hayden delivered the sentence.
According to information presented in court and case documents, Lee embezzled funds from various luxury car dealerships where he worked between 2015 and 2021. He did not declare these funds as income when submitting his federal tax returns, resulting in a tax loss of $494,082 over seven years.
Senior Counsel Lamparello credited the investigation conducted by special agents from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation division, led by Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith represented the government during the proceedings.
Lee was represented by defense counsel Jason A. Seidman.
