Former La Divina and Don Tequila owner pleads guilty to tax evasion, employing illegal aliens

The former owner of several Western New York restaurants has plead guilty to tax evasion and conspiracy to unlawfully employ illegal aliens, according to the U.S. Attorney of Western New York.

44-year-old Sergio Ramses Mucino, of Buffalo, formerly owned and operated four WNY restaurants:

1. Don Tequila, located at 73 Allen Street, Buffalo

2. Agave, located at 765 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo

3. La Divina, located at 2896 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore

4. El Agave located at 3870 Union Road, Cheektowaga

From 2013 to 2015 Mucino employed illegal aliens, paid those employees in cash and concealed cash payments. He also failed to collect payroll taxes and placed assets in the names of others to evade payments of income taxes which totaled over $1 million.

Mucino provided co-defendants Jose Sanchez-Ocampo and Marguin Sanchez money to purchase two homes and nine apartments where the illegal aliens would live, all were in close proximity to Mucino's restaurants. 

As a result of the plea, Mucino will forfeit nearly $40,000 in cash that was seized from his restaurants, a 2009 Porsche Boxster which was purchased with illegal profits, and an additional $1 million of profits made from operating the restaurants.

Another $35,000 in cash was previously forfeited by managers of Mucino's restaurants and the two houses.

Sanchez-Ocampo and Sanchez were previously convicted

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