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A Lakewood businessman is charged in federal court with trying to evade taxes between 2007 and 2010.

(Eric Heisig/cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Lakewood businessman was charged Monday with evading taxes for four years by taking money from companies and building a luxury home and jet setting around the world with his family.

Thomas G. Klocker, 47, took money from All Metal Sales of Westlake between 2007 and 2010 and used it for his "personal lifestyle," according to charging documents filed in federal court. He did not report this money to the Internal Revenue Service, and used some of the money to build a lavish lakefront home in Lakewood, investigators said.

Klocker did not report more than $2 million in income, on which he owed $611,673 worth of taxes. The diverted money was listed in his All Metal Sales' books as legitimate business expenses, the document states.

The Cleveland Police Foundation named Klocker as its man of the year for 2015.

Prepared remarks from the foundation's website say that he received the award for "his dedication to community service, philanthropy and commitment to making our corner of the world a safer place."

The charges were filed via a criminal information, which usually means a plea agreement is forthcoming.

Richard Blake, Klocker's attorney, declined to comment.

The information says that Klocker also lied to his tax preparers and said his family vacations were business trips. He also reported losses with TT Charter Leasing, which advertises the use of a 68-foot yacht named "Tommy Time," the document states.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge James Gwin.

"As this tax filling season comes to a close, we are reminded of our collective duty to accurately file and pay our taxes," said Kathy Enstrom, the special agent in charge of the IRS criminal investigation's Cincinnati field office. "Those who willfully abscond from this duty will be pursued and brought to justice."

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