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Former Business Partner Of  Ex-Senator John Lynch Sentenced To Prison For Tax Evasion

A business partner of  former state Sen. John A. Lynch was sentenced today for tax evasion to three months in federal prison and seven months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler also fined John E. “Jack” Westlake, 76, of Red Bank $30,000, and ordered him to surrender to the federal Bureau of Prisons by Feb. 28. Westlake was a close business associate of Lynch and was involved in two consulting companies with the former senator. Westlake pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, the same day that Lynch admitted accepting concealed corrupt payments. Lynch was sentenced on Dec. 19 to 39 months in prison and began serving his sentence on Jan. 16.

Westlake, in pleading guilty to tax evasion, admitted that for tax year 1999, he filed an individual tax return on behalf of him and his wife in which he failed to include approximately $350,000 in income. As a result, he admitted that he owed the government an additional tax of approximately $75,620.

Under the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Westlake faced a sentencing range of between 10 and 16 months in prison. The government recommended at sentencing today that Westlake receive a sentence within that range. Judge Chesler cited Westlake’s age and medical condition in imposing sentence.

For the news release on  Lynch and Westlake’s guilty pleas on Sept. 15, or Lynch’s sentencing on Dec. 19, follow this link: www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/index.html

Lynch and Westlake were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Chiesa, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI in Philadelphia, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge J.P. Weiss, as well as Special Agents of the FBI in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie G. Wiser; and Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Patricia J. Haynes, of the Newark Field Office, with the investigation of Lynch and Westlake.

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	Did You Know?
	All of your important business agreements must be in writing. All of your important business agreements must be in writing. Oral agreements are usually not enforceable, and leave you with no recourse for compensation or legal action. Make sure your contracts are well thought out, drafted in your favor and give you flexibility and protection.