Chicago Insurance Agent Pleads Guilty to Federal, State Tax Evasion

A Chicago insurance agent has pleaded guilty to failing to pay federal and state taxes on more than $4.7 million in income earned over a decade, according to federal prosecutors.

The office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois reported that John Ocwiej, 49, admitted he failed to pay income taxes for tax years 2006 to 2016, causing a combined loss to the United States and State of Illinois of more than $1.1 million. Ocwieja earned a total income of more than $4.7 million as a licensed insurance agent and financial representative during that time, the plea agreement states.

Ocwieja pleaded guilty on Sept. 24 to three counts of willfully failing to file a federal tax return. His sentencing is set for Dec. 18.

According to the plea agreement, Ocwieja earned more than $500,000 in three of the 11 years he failed to pay income taxes, and more than $300,000 in four other years. Ocwieja acknowledged in the plea agreement that he used the funds for personal matters instead paying taxes.

The conviction carries a maximum total sentence of three years in federal prison.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John R. Lausch Jr. and Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrianna Kastanek and Patrick King.