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IRS

Swampscott IRS Agent Busted Filing Fake Tax Returns: Feds Swampscott IRS Agent Busted Filing Fake Tax Returns: Feds
Swampscott IRS Agent Busted Filing Fake Tax Returns: Feds The only certainty in life is death and taxes, but that doesn't stop people from trying to cheat them. A Swampscott woman hired to stop tax cheats is now accused of being one herself, police said.  Ndeye Amy Thioub, 67, was indicted on Wednesday, April 17, on three counts of filing false tax returns and three counts of filing false tax returns as an employee of the United States, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Thioub joined the IRS in 2006 and worked as an investigative auditor. Put simply it was her job to root out anyone who didn't give the government its due.&nbs…
Feds: NJ Longshoreman Gets 2½ Years For Ducking Taxes On $2.5M Of Income Feds: NJ Longshoreman Gets 2½ Years For Ducking Taxes On $2.5M Of Income
Feds: NJ Longshoreman Gets 2½ Years For Ducking Taxes On $2.5M Of Income A Port Newark mechanic who was convicted of ducking taxes on $2.5 million of income was sentenced to nearly 2½ years in federal prison. Jonathan Michael, 55, of Springfield had filed returns and paid his taxes without fail for decades, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a release. In 2014, however, he gave his employer in the machine shop at the Port Newark Container Terminal a bogus W-4 form, claiming that he was exempt from any federal income tax withholding from his pay, federal authorities said. The IRS notified Michael in 2016 that he wasn't entitled to exempt status, but he wrote…
Bronx Tax Preparer 'The Magician' Busted By IRS In Record $100M Fraud Bronx Tax Preparer 'The Magician' Busted By IRS In Record $100M Fraud
Bronx Tax Preparer 'The Magician' Busted By IRS In Record $100M Fraud A Bronx tax preparer known as "The Magician" was arrested by IRS agents for a $100 million tax fraud that federal authorities said was one of the largest ripoffs of its kind. Rafael Alvarez, 60, submitted thousands of bogus tax returns over a 10-year period, Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. It was one of the single biggest tax ripoffs by a single tax preparer in history, federal authorities announced on "Tax Day" Monday, April 15. And it allowed Alvarez to pull in $15 million in revenue in just three years, Williams said. It also won Alvarez his sleight-of…
Jersey Shore Bizman Sentenced For IRS Tax Dodge: 2½ Years In Prison, $11.2 Million Restitution Jersey Shore Bizman Sentenced For IRS Tax Dodge: 2½ Years In Prison, $11.2 Million Restitution
Jersey Shore Bizman Sentenced For IRS Tax Dodge: 2½ Years In Prison, $11.2 Million Restitution UPDATE: An Ocean County businessman who stiffed the IRS out of more than $10 million in payroll taxes is headed to federal prison for a plea-bargained 2½ years. Josef Neuman, 37, of Lakewood, also must pay $11.2 million, including interest, that he still owes the government. Neuman was CEO of the Lakewood-based Concord Healthcare Group, which provided services to nursing homes and other healthcare operations -- including 20 or so that he also co-owned, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. Despite being responsible for collecting, accounting for and paying the payroll taxe…
Jersey Shore Mayor's Son Who Bought $7.6M Worth Of Real Estate Ducked $2M In Taxes, Feds Charge Jersey Shore Mayor's Son Who Bought $7.6M Worth Of Real Estate Ducked $2M In Taxes, Feds Charge
Jersey Shore Mayor's Son Who Bought $7.6M Worth Of Real Estate Ducked $2M In Taxes, Feds Charge A Jersey Shore mayor's son who owed the IRS $2 million never paid it -- and instead bought $7.6 million worth of real estate, federal authorities said following his arrest. Matthew Tucci, 51, of West Long Branch, collected $11.4 million in tax refunds from the country of Denmark for pension plans that he'd established there for friends, acquaintances, and relatives, an indictment returned by a grand jury in Trenton says. Rather than put the money into respective bank accounts that he'd created for the pension plans, Tucci "deposited the funds in five accounts held by five nominee compa…
Teaneck Tax Preparer Got $1.43M For Himself, $40M For Clients In COVID Scam: Indictment Teaneck Tax Preparer Got $1.43M For Himself, $40M For Clients In COVID Scam: Indictment
Teaneck Tax Preparer Got $1.43M For Himself, $40M For Clients In COVID Scam: Indictment A Teaneck tax preparer illegally collected $1.43 million for himself and $40 million for clients from the IRS by purposefully exploiting COVID-related credits that neither he nor they were entitled to, a federal indictment alleges. Leon Haynes, 50, was originally arrested on a criminal complaint last July. The investigation leading to the charges continued before a grand jury in Newark. The result: a 55-count indictment for tax evasion, preparing false returns, aggravated ID theft and mail fraud, authorities said. Haynes fraudulently sought more than $150 million from the IRS by claim…
Ridgewood Contractor Who Ducked Taxes On $3.27 Million Charged In 18-Count Indictment: Feds Ridgewood Contractor Who Ducked Taxes On $3.27 Million Charged In 18-Count Indictment: Feds
Ridgewood Contractor Who Ducked Taxes On $3.27 Million Charged In 18-Count Indictment: Feds A Bergen County contractor avoided taxes on $3.275 million in income over six years through a scheme that the IRS sniffed out, federal authorities said. John Constantino, 67, of Ridgewood, ended up stiffing the government out of $682,735 in corporate and personal income taxes, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip Sellinger said. As sole owner and president, Constantino took steps to conceal both his personal income and assets and those of his fireproofing and painting business between 2017 and 2022, the U.S. attorney said. For starters, Constantino used a false address on his driver’s licen…
Ridgewood Contractor Who Ducked Taxes On $3.27 Million Charged In 18-Count Indictment: Feds Ridgewood Contractor Who Ducked Taxes On $3.27 Million Charged In 18-Count Indictment: Feds
Ridgewood Contractor Who Ducked Taxes On $3.27 Million Charged In 18-Count Indictment: Feds A Bergen County contractor avoided taxes on $3.275 million in income over six years through a scheme that the IRS sniffed out, federal authorities said. John Constantino, 67, of Ridgewood, ended up stiffing the government out of $682,735 in corporate and personal income taxes, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip Sellinger said. As sole owner and president, Constantino took steps to conceal both his personal income and assets and those of his fireproofing and painting business between 2017 and 2022, the U.S. attorney said. For starters, Constantino used a false address on his driver’s licen…
Cost Of Victory: Taxes Could Rob Neptune Lottery Winner Of Hundreds Of Millions Cost Of Victory: Taxes Could Rob Neptune Lottery Winner Of Hundreds Of Millions
Cost Of Victory: Taxes Could Rob Neptune Lottery Winner Of Hundreds Of Millions The winner of the massive $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot will actually bring home much less money than that. The New Jersey Lottery said the winning ticket in the Tuesday, Mar. 26 drawing was purchased at ShopRite Wine & Spirits on Route 66 in Neptune. No winner had come forward publicly as of Friday, Mar. 29, and state law allows large lottery jackpot winners to remain anonymous. The winning numbers were 7, 11, 22, 29, and 38, and the MegaBall was 4. The final prize from the $1,128,000 jackpot will heavily depend on whether the winner takes the cash option or annuity. The cash op…
New London Dentist Gets Prison Time For Tax Evasion: Ordered To Pay Over $240K To IRS New London Dentist Gets Prison Time For Tax Evasion: Ordered To Pay Over $240K To IRS
New London Dentist Gets Prison Time For Tax Evasion: Ordered To Pay Over $240K To IRS A 66-year-old dentist from Connecticut will spend time in prison for failing to file federal income tax returns for several years, officials announced. New London County resident Boulos Hanna of East Lyme, also known as "Paul Hanna," was sentenced on Wednesday, March 6 to ten months in prison for tax evasion, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  According to federal officials, Hanna owns New London-based dental practice Paul Hanna DMD PC and accepts fees from patients in personal checks, cash, and credit card payments. He also owns the building…
Former DC Non-Profit Leader Gets Prison Time For $150K Affordable Housing Embezzlement Scheme Former DC Non-Profit Leader Gets Prison Time For $150K Affordable Housing Embezzlement Scheme
Former DC Non-Profit Leader Gets Prison Time For $150K Affordable Housing Embezzlement Scheme A minister who was the former head of a non-profit organization in Southeast DC is heading to prison taking from the poor and giving to her self while embezzling more than $150,000 from its coffers, federal authorities announced. Rowena Joyce Scott, 71, was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison for a scheme to steal money from a corporation she was entrusted to run which was created to aid some of the District's economically-challenged residents. According to prosecutors, Scott – a minister and the former head of the Ward 8 Democrats – was convicted following a June 2023 jury…
NJ Woman Behind Elmo's Viral Tweet In Disbelief: 'Wildest Week Of My Life' NJ Woman Behind Elmo's Viral Tweet In Disbelief: 'Wildest Week Of My Life'
NJ Woman Behind Elmo's Viral Tweet In Disbelief: 'Wildest Week Of My Life' Elmo checked in. And the internet responded. Christina Vittas, 25, a Wayne native who now lives in Hoboken, is the social media manager for Sesame Street's furry red monster. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christina Vittas (@c_vittas) On Jan. 29, Vittas tweeted out a seemingly innocent question to Elmo's followers. "Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?"  Vittas, whose LinkedIn page shows she's been working at Sesame Street for 3 years, never could've predicted what followed: Hundreds and thousands of response…
South Philly Cheesesteak Proprietors Get Prison Time For Tax Scheme, Feds Say South Philly Cheesesteak Proprietors Get Prison Time For Tax Scheme, Feds Say
South Philly Cheesesteak Proprietors Get Prison Time For Tax Scheme, Feds Say A father-son pair of cheesesteak shop owners were sentenced to prison last week for hiding $8 million in revenue from tax collectors, say federal prosecutors.  Nicholas Lucidonio, 57, and Anthony Lucidonio Sr., 84, the proprietors of Tony Luke's in South Philadelphia, will each spend 20 months behind bars, said the Justice Department in a release.  The Lucidonios, of New Jersey, carried out a "decade-long conspiracy to defraud the IRS" from 2006 to 2016, prosecutors said. The pair only deposited a portion of their earnings into the business's bank accounts and gave "inco…
Mount Vernon Woman Claims $3M Scratch-Off Winnings: 2 Prizes Still Remaining Mount Vernon Woman Claims $3M Scratch-Off Winnings: 2 Prizes Still Remaining
Mount Vernon Woman Claims $3M Scratch-Off Winnings: 2 Prizes Still Remaining A woman from Westchester struck it big after purchasing a top-prize-winning scratch-off ticket at a business within the county.  Mount Vernon resident Andrea Garvey claimed a $3 million top prize after winning the New York Lottery’s Triple Jackpot 777 scratch-off game, New York Lottery officials announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23.  According to lottery officials, Garvey opted to receive a one-time lump sum payment of $1,386,630 after the IRS took their chunk.  The lucky ticket was bought at Memorial Stationery located at 414 East Sandford Blvd. in Ga…
Disgraced Owner Of Failed NJ Nursing Home Chain From NY Admits Stiffing IRS Out Of $39M: Feds Disgraced Owner Of Failed NJ Nursing Home Chain From NY Admits Stiffing IRS Out Of $39M: Feds
Disgraced Owner Of Failed NJ Nursing Home Chain From NY Admits Stiffing IRS Out Of $39M: Feds 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A onetime insurance broker from Rockland County who ran a nationwide network of nearly 100 nursing homes into the ground from an office over a Bergen County pizzeria admitted that he purposely shorted the IRS nearly $39M, federal authorities said. Joseph Schwartz, 64, of Suffern, owned Skyline Management Group, which was based in the Wood-Ridge and amassed 95 nursing homes across 11 states. These once included Hudson View Care & Rehab Center in North Bergen, Brookhaven Health Care Center in East Orange and the Voorhees Care & Rehabilitation Center. Over a period of only sev…
Ex-State Sen. In Fitchburg Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds Ex-State Sen. In Fitchburg Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds
Ex-State Sen. In Fitchburg Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds A former Republican state senator who represented Worcester and Middlesex counties was charged with illegally taking thousands in COVID relief money and concealing cash from the IRS, federal authorities said.  Dean Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on 25 counts of wire fraud and three charges of filing false tax reports on Friday, Nov. 17, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.  Tran served in the Massachusetts Senate from 2017-2021.  Investigators said Tran collected $30,120 in unemployment benefits after being voted out of o…
Fairfax County Biz Owner Hid Lambo, Bentley, Helicopter In $1M+ Tax Evasion Scheme: Feds Fairfax County Biz Owner Hid Lambo, Bentley, Helicopter In $1M+ Tax Evasion Scheme: Feds
Fairfax County Biz Owner Hid Lambo, Bentley, Helicopter In $1M+ Tax Evasion Scheme: Feds A Northern Virginia business owner was charged in a federal indictment with income tax evasion and failure to pay employment taxes. Rick Tariq Rahim, 55, of Great Falls, began taking steps to evade the IRS' efforts to collect more than $1 million in federal income taxes he owed between 2004 and 2011, beginning in at least 2012, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica D. Aber, said. In November 2016, Rahim submitted a false form to the IRS that omitted valuable assets he owned, including a helicopter, a 2006 Bentley, a 2008 Lamborghini, and real property, the own…
NJ Attorney Awaits Sentence For Pocketing $2M From Client's Offshore Account, More NJ Attorney Awaits Sentence For Pocketing $2M From Client's Offshore Account, More
NJ Attorney Awaits Sentence For Pocketing $2M From Client's Offshore Account, More UPDATE: A once-prominent attorney from Jersey City is awaiting sentencing after admitting in federal court that he swindled a family he represented out of $2 million and then committed another crime while on pretrial release. The family had retained James R. Lisa, 68, to gather millions that had been moved into offshore bank accounts by relatives decades ago and to resolve any tax issues that arose as a result, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Soon after being retained, he moved more than $6 million back into the United States but told the family the funds still remained offshore, th…
Great Neck Resident Among 5 Businessmen Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds Great Neck Resident Among 5 Businessmen Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds
Great Neck Resident Among 5 Businessmen Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds Five businessmen, including one from Long Island, laundered millions of dollars a day in cash through fronts they set up in New York City’s Diamond District, federal authorities charged. Federal agents tied the quintet to $673 million in dirty money laundered through illicit operations over the past four years, US Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. In exchange, Youssef Janfar, aka “Joe Rodeo,” age 57, of Great Neck, and Edison, New Jersey residents Raj Vaidya, age 26; Rakesh Vaidya, age 51; Shrey Vaidya, age 23; and Neel Patel, 26, collected sizable fees, he said. Janfar pur…
Diamond District Operators From NJ, Long Island Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds Diamond District Operators From NJ, Long Island Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds
Diamond District Operators From NJ, Long Island Busted In $673M Money Laundering Scheme: Feds Four businessmen from New Jersey and one from Long Island laundered millions of dollars a day in cash through fronts they set up in New York City’s Diamond District, federal authorities charged. Federal agents tied the quintet to $673 million in dirty money laundered through the illicit operations over the past four years, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. In exchange, Raj Vaidya, 26; Rakesh Vaidya, 51; Shrey Vaidya, 23; and Neel Patel, 26, all of Edison; and Youssef Janfar, aka “Joe Rodeo,” 57, of Great Neck, NY collected sizable fees, he said. The three Vaidyas and P…
Teaneck Tax Preparer Busted By IRS In $32.6 Million COVID Fraud Teaneck Tax Preparer Busted By IRS In $32.6 Million COVID Fraud
Teaneck Tax Preparer Busted By IRS In $32.6 Million COVID Fraud A tax preparer from Teaneck was arrested Monday for illegally collecting more than $1 million for himself and $31.6 million for clients in tax refunds by filing fraudulent returns with the government, federal authorities said. Leon Haynes, 49, sought $124.8 million combined from the IRS in nearly 1,400 bogus tax formers that he filed claiming COVID-related employment tax credits, said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Acting Deputy U.S. Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg. "Based on Haynes’ false claims about his own companies, the U.S. Treasury mailed him multiple tax re…
Police Seize $360K From Home Of Alleged Elderly Scam Artist In Galloway Police Seize $360K From Home Of Alleged Elderly Scam Artist In Galloway
Police Seize $360K From Home Of Alleged Elderly Scam Artist In Galloway Police in South Jersey seized about $360,000 when they searched the home of an alleged elderly scam artist, authorities said. Michelle Mendonca 42, of Galloway Township was charged with fraud, theft by deception and money laundering for scamming elderly out-of-state residents, Galloway police said. She was arrested at her home on South Pitney Road on Friday, July 14 at 10:35 a.m., they said. Officers of the Galloway Township Police Department conducted a warranted search of her home regarding a multi-state elder fraud investigation. Detective Tim Giberson of the Galloway Township Police D…
Crane Operator Who Made $1.5M At Port Newark Convicted Of Tax Fraud: Feds Crane Operator Who Made $1.5M At Port Newark Convicted Of Tax Fraud: Feds
Crane Operator Who Made $1.5M At Port Newark Convicted Of Tax Fraud: Feds A crane mechanic at the Port Newark Container Terminal was convicted by a federal jury of trying to cheat the IRS. Over a five-year period beginning in 2014, Jonathan D. Michael of Union County gave his boss a W-4 falsely claiming that he was exempt from having any federal tax withheld, authorities said. The IRS notified Michael in 2016 that he wasn't entitled to exempt status, but he wrote to the company and contended that his bogus W-4 was correct, they said. Michael, of Springfield, also didn't file any personal income tax returns, even though he was paid roughly $1.5 million in salary,…
Out-Of-State Tax Preparer Set Up Shop In Norwich To File False Returns Out-Of-State Tax Preparer Set Up Shop In Norwich To File False Returns
Out-Of-State Tax Preparer Set Up Shop In Norwich To File False Returns A Florida tax preparer who flew to Connecticut every year to work on people's federal returns will spend next year's tax season behind bars, authorities said on Tuesday, May 30.  Keyante Paul, age 34, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after she pleaded guilty in February to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. Paul ran Keys Tax Services and would set up shop in the New London County town of Norwich each year to prepare tax returns for clients that included false "adjustments," which reduced what the …
SCAM ALERT: 'Citizens Behind The Badge' Isn't Legit Police Fundraiser, Authorities Warn SCAM ALERT: 'Citizens Behind The Badge' Isn't Legit Police Fundraiser, Authorities Warn
Scam ALERT: 'Citizens Behind The Badge' Isn't Legit Police Fundraiser, Authorities Warn Lyndhurst police have become the latest local law enforcers to warn citizens of a direct mail scam that claims to have their support. A group called “Citizens Behind the Badge” trolls for victims through letters that seek “permission” to list the recipient as “a strong supporter of your local police who are helping to keep the [your town name] area safe.” You're offered a decal that says “I Stand With My Local Police,” which they say you can proudly display “on your car, a window in your home, or in a prominent location for all to see.” Just one more thing…. (here it comes): “CITIZEN…
Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds
Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds The former president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts and the group's ex-lobbyist were sentenced Wednesday, May 10, after they were convicted on charges that they turned the union into a "criminal enterprise" that defrauded its members, authorities said.  Dana A. Pullman, 60, of Worcester — the former president of SPAM  — was sentenced to 30 months behind bars and three years of probation, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Anne M. Lynch, 71, of Huff, the union's lobbyist, received two years in prison and two years of supervised release, the prosecutor add…
Multitude Of Government Agencies Victimized Out Of $4M By NJ Man: Feds Multitude Of Government Agencies Victimized Out Of $4M By NJ Man: Feds
Multitude Of Government Agencies Victimized Out Of $4M By NJ Man: Feds A New Jersey man stole more than $4 million through a clutch of schemes that included defrauding three different government programs, authorities charged. Gbenga Akinbode, 33, of Newark, opened a bank account and then used 120 different debit cards to buy $500,000 worth of money orders that were deposited into the account, according to a complaint filed by Homeland Security Investigations in U.S. District Court in Newark. Investigators discovered that the debit cards were funded with $4 million in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits, bogus Paycheck Protection Program loans…
$1M Fraud: Business Owner From Woodstock Gets Prison Time $1M Fraud: Business Owner From Woodstock Gets Prison Time
$1M Fraud: Business Owner From Woodstock Gets Prison Time A Massachusetts business owner from northern Connecticut will spend time in prison for tax fraud after failing to report just under $1 million in income for several years, federal officials said.  Windham County resident Mariusz Kalinowski, age 48, of Woodstock, was sentenced to seven months in prison on Wednesday, April 26 for tax fraud, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.  According to federal officials, Kalinowski is the owner of Webster, Massachusetts-based Kalinowski General Construction, Inc., in Worcester County, which provides&n…
Westport Investment Advisor Gets Jail Time: Did Not Report $1.4M To IRS, Feds Say Westport Investment Advisor Gets Jail Time: Did Not Report $1.4M To IRS, Feds Say
Westport Investment Advisor Gets Jail Time: Did Not Report $1.4M To IRS, Feds Say An investment advisor from Fairfield County will spend time in prison after failing to report more than $1.4 million in income to the IRS, federal officials said.  Westport resident Thomas Pacilio, age 64, was sentenced on Thursday, April 13 to six months in prison for omitting around $1,476,425 in profits in income tax returns between 2015 and 2018, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.  Earlier Report - Westport Investment Advisor Failed To Report $1.4M In Profits To IRS, Feds Say According to federal officials, in 2011, Pacilio a…
Wildwood Mayor Admits Tax Dodge: Feds Wildwood Mayor Admits Tax Dodge: Feds
Wildwood Mayor Admits Tax Dodge: Feds Wildwood Mayor Peter J. Byron admitted Friday that he ducked paying taxes on $40,425 that he received for working as a salesman for a law firm, federal authorities said. Byron, 67, officially pleaded guilty to twice willfully "aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of fraudulent tax returns" to the IRS for calendar years 2017 and 2018, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on March 24. The mayor still has a state case to deal with. He, former Mayor Ernest V. Troiano Jr. and City Commissioner Steven E. Mikulski were charged last year with fraudulently collecting stat…
IRS Bags Hundreds Of Tax Cheats, Money Launderers As COVID Relief Fraud Tops $3.2 Billion IRS Bags Hundreds Of Tax Cheats, Money Launderers As COVID Relief Fraud Tops $3.2 Billion
IRS Bags Hundreds Of Tax Cheats, Money Launderers As COVID Relief Fraud Tops $3.2 Billion It wasn't long after the government began offering COVID relief loans three years ago that IRS investigators were hot on the tails of scammers. Since then, agents with IRS Criminal Investigation have pursued 975 tax and money-laundering cases nationwide involving $3.2 billion worth of fraudulently obtained loans, credits and payments meant to help American workers, families, and small businesses who were rocked by the pandemic. Over that time, IRS-CI has kept its conviction rate at nearly 100%, federal authorities say. It has produced indictments against 458 defendants, …