Wellington Doctor Who Hid $18 Million From IRS Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison

Dr. Krishan Tripuraneni, a Wellington-based gastroenterologist who pleaded guilty to tax evasion in January, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, plus one year of supervised release. Tripuraneni, who hid $18 million from the IRS, filed more than $6 million in fraudulent tax returns. 

Tripuraneni, 57, ran the thriving Palm Beach Gastroenterology Consultants, located at 1157 State Road 7 in Wellington, as well as Palm Beach Surgery Center and PB Anesthesia Associates.

Authorities said the good doctor had used the unreported money to buy himself an oceanfront Manalapan mansion and paid for lavish interior designs. He also used the money to pay for school tuition for his kids.  

Tripuraneni had more than $500,000 in liens forgiven last week on his Wellington estate by Palm Beach County. Part of that leniency came from Tripuraneni's long history of charitable work for the community, said U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles.

According to his lawyers,Tripuraneni has spent decades serving the poor living in Belle Glade, traveling there twice a week to treat patients for a reduced rate and sometimes even for no charge. He also paid for a friend's son to go to medical school. 

In March, Tripuraneni was forced to put his 12,224-square-foot mansion, located at 840 S. Ocean Blvd., on the market. 

The mansion, nicknamed "Nirvana," features six bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and a Buddhist prayer room next to an outdoor meditation area.

Tripuraneni was ordered to surrender by June 26 to begin serving his sentence and to pay a $500,000 fine to the U.S. government. He's also been ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.