Judge sentences man to prison for tax evasion

FORT MYERS — A federal judge yesterday sentenced Peter Jensen of Fort Myers to 31 months in prison and ordered him to pay nearly $2.2 million to the government for tax evasion.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney, Jensen attempted to evade paying $1.8 million in federal income taxes. He did that by buying real property in the names of other people and using another person's bank account so the Internal Revenue Service couldn't seize it.

Jensen pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion Oct. 23, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office. U.S. District Court Judge John Steele ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $2,155,133.88 in addition to sentencing him to federal prison for 31 months.