Crime & Safety
Former Campbell Businessman Pleads Guilty to $137,000 Tax Evasion
The owner of Cocoon Nutrition pleaded guilty to setting up a fake religious organization to avoid taxes.
Stephen Joseph Heuer, a former Campbell man who sold nutritional supplements, pleaded guilty in San Jose federal court last week to setting up a fake religious ministry to avoid paying $136,552 of taxes.
Heuer, who moved to South Carolina, sold products under the name Cocoon Nutrition in Cupertino and Campbell. He set up a religious organization called Alchemy Ministries in Washington State to concel $381,182 of taxable income, according to prosecutors.
Heuer will be sentenced Dec. 9 by Judge Edward J. Davila. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
