LAS VEGAS -- A former real estate broker who admitted that he evaded payment of his federal income taxes for five years and impersonated an IRS agent in order to remove tax liens from his Henderson home was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, according to Greg Brower, U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Michael J. Sabo was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Roger L. Hunt, who also ordered Sabo to pay approximately $95,000 in restitution to the IRS and to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison. Sabo pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2008, to false impersonation of an officer or employee of the U.S. and tax evasion, Brower said.

Sabo owed approximately $95,000 in individual federal income tax for the years 1994 through 1998, Brower said.

Brower said in 2004 and 2005, Sabo pretended to be an IRS Agent and signed and filed with the Clark County Recorder’s Office three fraudulent lien releases for tax liens the IRS had placed on his residence at 2323 Richard Drive in Henderson. Because of Sabo’s actions, three IRS tax liens, totaling approximately $97,000, were released from the property.

In September 2005, Sabo sold the Richard Drive property, thereby avoiding the payment of his federal taxes. Sabo also transferred most of the proceeds of the sale of the Richard Drive property to a nominee, Brower said.

According to the Nevada Real Estate Division, Sabo was first issued a real estate broker’s license in Nevada in 1982. On Aug. 31, 2008, his license expired and was not renewed. Sabo was permitted to self-report to prison by March 9, Brower said.

The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Pugh and Jeffrey Tao.