A Milwaukee restaurateur who pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion has sold a Franklin strip mall for $3.3 million, according to state records.
Paul Bouraxis sold the property at 6503 S. 27 St. to Milwaukee developer Joshua Jeffers. Tenants in the building include a GNC, Papa Murphy’s and an urgent care clinic.
In July, Bouraxis, his wife, Freida Bouraxis and their son, Andreas Bouraxis, all of Franklin, filed plea agreements in their federal tax conspiracy case.
The three own the El Fuego restaurant on West Layton Avenue in Milwaukee, Omega Burger restaurant on South 27th Street in Franklin and El Beso on South 74th Street in Greenfield. The family also owns Mad Rooster Cafe on Greenfield Avenue in Milwaukee, which was not included in the case.
The family was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2015.
Paul, Freida and Andreas have all pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States by impeding the IRS, and Paul also pleaded guilty to tax evasion regarding his 2010 personal income tax return.
They allegedly skimmed more than $3 million in cash from the businesses from 2007 to 2010 and hid it by never depositing the funds, building up a stash of more than $1.7 million in cash that was seized by federal agents in September 2012. In addition, the family bought jewelry and precious metals, including silver bars.
Jeffers, president of J. Jeffers & Co., has done several historic rehabilitation projects including the Mackie Building and Mitchell Building in downtown Milwaukee.
