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Nationally Known Fairfield County Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Tax Crime Nationally Known Fairfield County Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Tax Crime
Nationally Known Fairfield County Restaurant Owner Sentenced For Tax Crime A nationally known celebrity chef known as “Lord of the Pies” who owns restaurants in Westchester and Fairfield counties will spend time behind bars after admitting to not paying taxes. Bruno DiFabio, age 51, of Ridgefield, was sentenced on Thursday, May 6 to 30 days in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a federal tax offense in 2018. Specifically, DiFabio pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to file false income tax returns and payroll tax returns.  Currently, DiFabio has ownership interests in several pizza restaurants in Connecticut …

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by Zak Failla
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Rapper DMX Hospitalized In Westchester In Grave Condition Rapper DMX Hospitalized In Westchester In Grave Condition
Rapper DMX Hospitalized In Westchester In Grave Condition The rapper DMX is hospitalized in his native New York in Westchester County in grave condition, according to a report by TMZ. DMX, age 50, whose birth name is Earl Simmons, suffered an overdose around 11 p.m. Friday, April 2, which led to a heart attack, according to TMZ. He is hospitalized in the critical care unit in White Plains, the report said. Simmons is a Mount Vernon native who grew up in Yonkers. Simmons lived near the Bedford border on McLain Street in Mount Kisco with his now-estranged wife Tashera Simmons before putting the home into foreclosure in 2016 after filing for bankru…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Accountant For Restaurant Owner In Westchester, Fairfield Counties Admits To Federal Tax Charge Accountant For Restaurant Owner In Westchester, Fairfield Counties Admits To Federal Tax Charge
Accountant For Restaurant Owner In Westchester, Fairfield Counties Admits To Federal Tax Charge A Long Island accountant who worked for a pizzeria owner with locations in Fairfield and Westchester counties is facing prison time after he admitted to tax offenses. Suffolk County resident James Guerra, age 58, of Dix Hills, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of willful failure to collect and pay over withholding taxes following his arrest for turning a blind eye to his boss failing to pay taxes. U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut John Durham said that Guerra worked as an accountant for Bruno DeFabio, who owned these restaurants in Westchester and Fairfield coun…

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by Zak Failla
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CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors
CT Man Accused Of Defrauding Investors A Connecticut man has been indicted on 17 counts of allegedly defrauding investors of an alcoholic beverage company. Brian Hughes, 56, of Madison, was indicted on Friday, Jan. 15, following his arrest, said John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. The indictment alleges that in March 2015, Hughes founded Handcrafted Brands, for the purpose of raising money to purchase Salute American Vodka, an alcoholic beverage company.  After founding the company, Hughes allegedly solicited and received funds from investors for the purchase and development of Salute.  &nb…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Gambino Crime Family Members From Region Admit To Multiple Crimes Gambino Crime Family Members From Region Admit To Multiple Crimes
Gambino Crime Family Members From Region Admit To Multiple Crimes A dozen members and associates of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra admitted to multiple crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, fraud, obstruction of justice and related offenses for criminal activities throughout the New York metropolitan area committed as part of the illicit activities of the Gambino family. One additional defendant pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return.  The defendants also agreed to pay $1.6 million in penalties. The pleas were entered throughout the past week at federal court in Brooklyn. According to court filings and facts presente…

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by Joe Lombardi
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CT Accountant Sentenced For Tax Evasion, Obstruction Offenses CT Accountant Sentenced For Tax Evasion, Obstruction Offenses
CT Accountant Sentenced For Tax Evasion, Obstruction Offenses A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for tax evasion and obstruction offenses. New Haven County resident Louis DeMaio, age 70, of Guilford, was sentenced Tuesday, Jan. 12, to prison time, followed by one year of supervised release, said John Durham US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, DeMaio was employed as an accountant in East Haven and, from approximately 2010 to 2018, also operated Almatt LLC, a temporary employment agency that provided day laborers to construction companies.   Although …

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by Kathy Reakes
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Business Owner, Professional Poker Player In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion Business Owner, Professional Poker Player In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion
Business Owner, Professional Poker Player In Fairfield County Admits To Tax Evasion A professional poker player from Fairfield County who ran a construction business admitted to a near million dollar tax evasion scheme. Shelton resident Guy Smith, 62, who operates Centerline Interiors LLC, which specializes in commercial interior construction, pleaded guilty this week to one count of tax evasion after failing to pay tax on more than $1 million in gambling winnings. Smith is also a professional poker player who has participated in poker tournaments at casinos in Connecticut and other locations around the U.S. and The Bahamas. Smith withdrew funds from both his business…

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by Zak Failla
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NY Restaurateur Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme NY Restaurateur Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme
NY Restaurateur Sentenced For Tax Evasion Scheme A Manhattan restaurateur from Long Island will spend time behind bars after he admitted to a near million dollar tax evasion scheme. Nassau County resident Adel Kellel, 63, of New Hyde Park, the former owners of Raffles Bistro in New York City, has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in Manhattan federal court earlier this year to a $771,195 scheme, acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said. In addition to his prison term, Kellel was also ordered to pay $613,478 in restitution to the IRS and $157,717 to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Strauss s…

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by Zak Failla
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Attorney From Fairfield County Sentenced For Evading 566K In Taxes Attorney From Fairfield County Sentenced For Evading 566K In Taxes
Attorney From Fairfield County Sentenced For Evading 566K In Taxes A Hudson Valley attorney living in Fairfield County will spend time behind bars after admitting to tax evasion and failing to pay over payroll taxes during a long-running scheme. Danbury resident Francis O’Reilly, an attorney in Putnam County, in Carmel, was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison for an elaborate scheme that cost the U.S. Treasury more than $800,000 following his guilty plea last year. Prosecutors said that O’Reilly has been permitted to practice law in New York since 1989, and has been a self-employed attorney who worked out of Putnam County at the O’Reilly Law Practic…

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by Zak Failla
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Bookkeeper In Fairfield County Sentenced For $418K Embezzlement Scheme Bookkeeper In Fairfield County Sentenced For $418K Embezzlement Scheme
Bookkeeper In Fairfield County Sentenced For $418K Embezzlement Scheme A bookkeeper in Fairfield County has been sentenced to prison for fraud and tax offenses stemming from an embezzlement scheme. Penni Sherman, also known as Penni Parker, 53, of Norwalk, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to eight months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release on Friday, Aug. 14.  Shea ordered Sherman to spend the first two months of supervised release in home confinement. According to court documents and statements made in court, Sherman operated PSP Accounting & Bookkeeping, and provided bookkeeping services to ar…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Woman Admits To Embezzling $415,000 From Health Care Center In Fairfield County Woman Admits To Embezzling $415,000 From Health Care Center In Fairfield County
Woman Admits To Embezzling $415,000 From Health Care Center In Fairfield County A Connecticut woman has admitted to embezzling more than $400,000 from her employers in Fairfield County through a series of fraud and tax offenses. Melissa Meole, 35, of North Branford, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing false tax returns for multiple schemes that spanned several years. Meole, who was employed at the Bridgeport Health Care Center Inc., was responsible for processing payroll and for handling the finances of the Bridgeport Manor resident trust account. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that from 2015 to October 2018, Meole stole more than $415,000 by writing checks to ca…

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by Zak Failla
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CT Attorney Failed To Pay Income Tax For Eight Years, Feds Say CT Attorney Failed To Pay Income Tax For Eight Years, Feds Say
CT Attorney Failed To Pay Income Tax For Eight Years, Feds Say An attorney in Connecticut will avoid jail time after admitting to failing to pay more than $225,000 in taxes over the better part of a decade. Bethany resident William Palmieri, 56, was sentenced to three years of probation, the first six months of which will be served in home confinement, after he pleaded guilty in Bridgeport district court to two counts of willful failure to pay income taxes, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham announced. Palmieri will also have to complete 150 hours of community service. Palmieri, an attorney with a practice specializing in civil rights law, repo…

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by Zak Failla