Putnam County business owner indicted for employment and personal tax offences

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — A West Virginia grand jury handed down an indictment Tuesday for a Putnam County real estate appraisal business owner charged with employment and personal tax offenses.

Dean Dawson, of Hurricane, has been charged with 19 counts of failing to collect and pay employment taxes and six counts of failing to file personal tax returns, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

The news release said Dawson has owned and operated the Real Property Consulting Group since the mid-1990s.

The indictment alleges from late 2018 to 2023, Dawson failed to pay the Internal Revenue Service Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes withheld from employee paychecks or file quarterly tax returns reported from withholdings. In addition, the indictment accuses Dawson of of not filing personal tax returns during that time.

Prosecutors said while Dawson alleges employees were provided tax forms, he did not file them with the Social Security Administration.

Dawson is accused of using a business account to pay personal expenses and divert funds to his wife, who is not an employee of Real Property Consulting.

Prosecutors said Dawson faces a maximum of 101 years in prison for the charges.