Malden Photographer Pleads Guilty to a Number of Federal Tax Crimes

A 54-year-old Malden man pleaded guilty Thursday to a number of federal tax crimes, according to U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz’ office.

Mark R. Fisette, a freelance photographer for various daily and weekly newspapers, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and four counts of filing false tax documents. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Denise Casper on Oct. 2, 2014.

According to authorities, Fisette had not filed or paid his income taxes in a timely matter. And then, when state and federal taxing authorities began their collection efforts, including seizing a paycheck, he provided his employers with the name and Social Security Number of a deceased relative for future payments, authorities said.

Fisette then filed false income tax returns and a false financial statement, which did not report the income he received in the dead relative’s name, according to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office.

Fisette faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and three years of supervised release on the tax evasion charge and three years in prison and one year of supervised release on the filing false tax documents charges. Both carry a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater.