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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
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status COVID-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status
Covid-19: Still Waiting On Stimulus Check? Here's New Info On Status Some Americans are still waiting on the third round of COVID-19 stimulus checks as the federal government continues sending out millions of payments to those waiting. Two rounds of the latest batch of COVID-19 have already been distributed to eligible taxpayers who provided direct deposit information on their 2019 or 2020 returns, providing some relief to Americans struggling during the pandemic. According to the IRS, it has already distributed approximately 127 million payments for a total of $325 billion under President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. For the third stimulus payment, 30…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's How Many Stimulus Checks Treasury Has Sent, How To Track Status Of Yours COVID-19: Here's How Many Stimulus Checks Treasury Has Sent, How To Track Status Of Yours
Covid-19: Here's How Many Stimulus Checks Treasury Has Sent, How To Track Status Of Yours Tens of millions of Americans have received their third COVID-19 stimulus relief checks worth a total of $242 billion as part of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. According to a report released on Wednesday, March 17 from government agencies, approximately 90 million $1,400 checks have been cut to Americans, with most sent by direct deposit.  Approximately 150,000 physical checks worth approximately $442 were also sent out in the first wave. The first round of payments started showing up in people’s bank accounts this weekend, the Treasury Department and IRS annou…

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by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: Here's How To Track Status Of Stimulus Check COVID-19: Here's How To Track Status Of Stimulus Check
Covid-19: Here's How To Track Status Of Stimulus Check Impatient Americans waiting on their third COVID-19 stimulus check now have a tool as the IRS reopened its “Get My Payment” tool. Using the online aid, taxpayers can keep track of their $1,400 payment that started hitting some Americans’ bank account as recently as this weekend. “Get My Payment” is updated daily, typically overnight, and is a means to avoid having Americans flooding the IRS phone lines asking where their stimulus check is. Officials noted that those working the phones do not have any information that isn’t listed on the IRS website. To check the status, one simply has to g…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Support Biden Stimulus Bill, Raising Minimum Wage COVID-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Support Biden Stimulus Bill, Raising Minimum Wage
Covid-19: Here's Percentage Of Americans Who Support Biden Stimulus Bill, Raising Minimum Wage The majority of Americans support President Joe Biden’s proposed stimulus bill, as well as raising the national minimum wage to $15, according to a newly released Quinnipiac University poll. With millions of Americans struggling financially due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the bulk of those polled were in favor of anything that will put more cash in their pockets during the pandemic. Related story - COVID-19: Here's Who's Expected To Qualify For Third IRS Stimulus Check A total of 1,075 American adults nationwide were surveyed from Thursday, Jan. 28 through Monday, Feb. 1.  Ne…

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by Zak Failla
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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
News
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
News
Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams
Here Are Four Ways To Avoid Stimulus Check Scams Consumer protection and law enforcement agencies are warning people to be wary of scams associated with stimulus checks. To avoid scammers, the Department of Consumer Protection is circulating tips on how to identify, stop, and/or report fraudsters going after stimulus checks. The second round of stimulus checks to help Americans deal with an economy hampered by COVID-19 began arriving in people’s mailboxes and direct-deposit accounts in late December. Single people will get $600, a married couple will get $1,200, and there will be an additional $600 per child to families. Everyone who qual…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New Stimulus Check COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New Stimulus Check
Covid-19: Here's What To Know About New Stimulus Check Relief is now finally on the way for Americans amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It took more than a week of drama after Congressional leaders unveiled an approximately $900 billion stimulus deal on Sunday, Dec. 20that will provide Americans that qualify direct payments of $600 for individuals to help offset the hardships caused during the crisis. The $600 is half of what was directed during the first round of stimulus checks earlier this year. Payments are phased down from $600 for those making more than $75,000 annually and are completely phased out for indivi…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Here's When To Expect Second Stimulus Check To Arrive COVID-19: Here's When To Expect Second Stimulus Check To Arrive
Covid-19: Here's When To Expect Second Stimulus Check To Arrive Relief is on the way for Americans financially strapped during the COVID-19 crisis. Congressional leaders unveiled on Sunday, Dec. 20 an approximately $900 billion stimulus deal that will provide Americans that qualify direct payments of $600 to help offset the hardships caused during the pandemic. The $600 is half of what was directed during the first round of stimulus checks earlier this year. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told CNBC on Monday that the checks could be in Americans’ bank accounts in a matter of just a few days for those who have direct deposit info on file with the IRS.…

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by Zak Failla
News
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
News
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