Jean Brito, 47, has been charged with five counts of tax evasion and five counts of making or subscribing false tax returns, according to prosecutors. The charges stem from his alleged underreporting of more than $20 million in business income and evasion of over $1.2 million in personal income taxes, prosecutors said.

Business Income Underreporting

Brito, who owned Boston Quality Cleaning Services, a Medford-based janitorial company, is accused of underreporting income from 2018 to 2023. Investigators claim he cashed checks payable to his company at check-cashing businesses instead of depositing them into the company’s bank account.

According to court documents cited by The Boston Globe, Brito provided incomplete financial records to his tax preparers, leading to inaccurate tax returns filed with the state Department of Revenue. From these false figures, Brito allegedly took deductions and substantially underreported his business income on his personal income tax returns.

Search and Seizure

On February 4, State Police detectives, assisted by Department of Revenue and FBI agents, executed search warrants at a Woburn home and the Medford business. Authorities recovered approximately $35,000 in cash, along with documents and electronic devices.

Brito was released on conditions that he surrender his passport and not apply for a new one, limit his travel to New England states unless granted court permission, and sign a waiver of rendition, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office.

His next court date is set for March 18. Brito pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Wednesday in Middlesex Superior Court.

Background of the Company

Brito founded Boston Quality Cleaning Services at 1 Shipyard Way in 2002 after working as an office cleaner. The company’s website states that Brito started the business with a focus on providing quality cleaning services to businesses and residential clients.

Prosecutors emphasized that the underreporting of income and evasion of taxes had significant implications for the state’s revenue and the integrity of the tax system. The case is being closely watched by local and state authorities, who have been cracking down on tax evasion in recent years.

According to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, the investigation was prompted by discrepancies in Brito’s financial records and the lack of proper documentation for the business’s income.

Authorities have said that the case is part of a broader effort to hold individuals and businesses accountable for accurate tax reporting. The DA’s office noted that the amount of money involved and the methods used by Brito were particularly egregious and indicative of a pattern of behavior.

Brito’s case is expected to be a test case for the state’s ability to prosecute complex tax evasion cases. The next court date on March 18 will provide more details on the prosecution’s case and Brito’s potential defense.