Baltimore County CEO Sentenced for $2M Payroll Tax Theft

The former business owner will serve 18 months in prison for failing to pay employee taxes.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 3:35am

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A Baltimore County business owner was sentenced to 18 months in prison for employment tax crimes, the United States Department of Justice announced. Brett Hill, the CEO and president of two telecommunications companies, was found guilty of 16 counts of willfully failing to collect and pay over $2 million in payroll taxes from his employees' wages to the government.

Why it matters

This case highlights the serious consequences business owners can face for misappropriating employee payroll taxes, which is considered a form of theft from both workers and the government. It also underscores the importance of proper tax compliance and oversight, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The details

According to the DOJ, from the second quarter of 2016 through the fourth quarter of 2018, Hill withheld federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes from his employees' paychecks but never paid that money to the government. In addition to the 18-month prison sentence, Hill will be subject to three years of supervised release and must pay $658,485 in restitution.

  • In the second quarter of 2016, Hill began withholding employee taxes but not paying them to the government.
  • The tax fraud continued through the fourth quarter of 2018.
  • On March 15, 2026, Hill was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the crimes.

The players

Brett Hill

The CEO and president of two telecommunications companies in Baltimore County, Maryland, who was found guilty of 16 counts of willfully failing to pay over $2 million in employee payroll taxes.

United States Department of Justice

The federal agency that announced and oversaw the prosecution of Hill for his employment tax crimes.

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What’s next

The judge has ordered Hill to serve 3 years of supervised release following his 18-month prison sentence.

The takeaway

This case serves as a warning to business owners that the misuse of employee payroll taxes is a serious crime that can result in significant prison time and financial penalties. Proper tax compliance and oversight are essential for maintaining the trust of workers and the government.