A man from New Jersey, who previously defrauded the New York Yankees of over $626,000, has been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $3.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty to tax evasion, according to officials.
Walter Huss, a Hewitt resident and owner of a shipping business, was accused of not paying for food and drinks associated with an eight-seat suite he had for Yankees games in 2020. He also had tax obligations on luxury items like Aston Martins, McLarens, high-end watches, and designer clothes.
Initially pleading guilty in October 2023, the 63-year-old Huss, reportedly diagnosed with kidney cancer, attempted to submit a fake doctor’s letter to avoid entering his guilty plea.
“Huss never had cancer and went on various trips across the United States and internationally during this time. It was only after law enforcement uncovered his lies that he finally confessed,” stated the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey.
The sentencing details, released on Tuesday, include a three-year supervised release following his prison term.
Huss is said to have failed to collect, report, and pay payroll taxes from 2014 to 2022 while simultaneously defrauding the Yankees, court documents reveal.
The Bronx team allegedly brought the case to federal court in Manhattan in 2020, claiming he had signed an eight-year contract for suite seating, which included food and beverages. The Yankees had initially sought $1.5 million, but the amount was ultimately adjusted by an arbitrator.
