Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing $2.6M Meant To Pay Taxes

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A payroll tax services operator has pleaded guilty to stealing $2.6 million clients gave him to pay state and federal taxes.

Fifty-five-year-old Kevin Carden, formerly of Bel Air, entered the plea Monday in federal court in Baltimore just before his trial was to start, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

According to his plea agreement, Kevin Carden and his wife Beverly Carden operated AccuPay Inc., which provided payroll tax services to small and medium businesses.

Prosecutors say AccuPay received funds from its clients to pay the IRS and the state of Maryland for clients' employment taxes. Authorities say the Cardens diverted those funds to their personal use.

Beverly Carden pleaded guilty to mail fraud and filing a false tax return. Both Cardens will be sentenced May 18.

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