Passaic Business Owner Spent Millions In Employee Taxes On Watches, Cars: Feds

Walter Hass, 62, of Hewitt pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to collect, account for, and pay over payroll taxes on Tuesday, officials said.

According to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger's office, Haas had a shipping/logistics company in Oakland that operated under three different names. From 2014 to 2022, Haas "failed to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over payroll taxes to the IRS on behalf of each of these companies," Sellinger's office said.

Instead, officials say that Haas used company money to buy Aston Martens and McLarens, take vacations, go to sporting events, and fund home renovations. He also spent the money on and buy high-end accessories, watches, and jewelry as well as water sports vehicles, according to Sellinger's office.

Officials said he was the owner and operator of the company, which is not named in court documents.

Haas faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross financial loss caused by the crime. His sentencing is scheduled for April of 2025.