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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
Owner Of Hudson Valley Tax Preparation Business Admits To Scam IRS Of $500K Owner Of Hudson Valley Tax Preparation Business Admits To Scam IRS Of $500K
Owner Of Hudson Valley Tax Preparation Business Admits To Scam IRS Of $500K A Hudson Valley tax preparer and the owner of Eversley Tax has been sentenced to six months in prison for preparing false and fraudulent income tax returns. Eversley Barrett, of New Windsor, was sentenced on Friday, Jan. 29, to prison time after pleading guilty to 16 counts of an 84-count indictment, said Audrey Strauss, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. “Eversley Barrett abused his position of trust as a tax preparer by filing false tax returns on behalf of his clients and himself," said Strauss. "He caused over half a million dollars in losses to the IRS, all for hi…

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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
Police & Fire
Police In Westchester Issue Alert For Scammers Impersonating Officers Police In Westchester Issue Alert For Scammers Impersonating Officers
Police In Westchester Issue Alert For Scammers Impersonating Officers An alert was issued in Westchester after scammers started spoofing the Yonkers Police Department’s number and impersonating police officers. The Yonkers Police Department released multiple scam alerts after receiving multiple reports of area residents receiving phone calls from schemers alleging to be officers or government officials and demanding money. The number comes up on caller ID as the Yonker Police Department, and the scammers have been threatening fines or to arrest callers if they failed to immediately send them cash. “Scammers are continuing to spoof Yonkers Police telephone nu…

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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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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Stealing Nearly $5M From Pandemic Relief Fund COVID-19: Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Stealing Nearly $5M From Pandemic Relief Fund
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Stealing Nearly $5M From Pandemic Relief Fund A man from the Hudson Valley allegedly took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to live a lavish lifestyle by allegedly illegally obtaining nearly $5 million in loans meant for struggling businesses. Ulster County resident Jean Lavanture, of Saugerties, also known as Rudy Lavanture, was arrested this week on a bank fraud complaint that alleges he obtained millions in government-backed loans that were earmarked for businesses struggling during the pandemic. Lavanture was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 17 at a new 8.54-acre estate that he allegedly purchased with the illegally obtained funds. It…

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by Zak Failla
News
Former Town Justice In Westchester Sentenced For Tax Evasion Former Town Justice In Westchester Sentenced For Tax Evasion
Former Town Justice In Westchester Sentenced For Tax Evasion A former town justice in Northern Westchester will spend time behind bars after admitting to a decade-long tax evasion scheme. Former Lewisboro Town Justice Marc Seedorf, a Carmel attorney, was sentenced in White Plains Federal Court to six months in prison following his guilty plea to tax evasion last December. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said that between 2009 through October 2019, Seedorf was a Town Justice for the Town of Lewisboro, and an Administrative Law Judge for Westchester County.  He also received income from the private practice of law.  Strauss said tha…

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by Zak Failla
News
Here's Why IRS Is Sending Money To 13.9 Million Americans Here's Why IRS Is Sending Money To 13.9 Million Americans
Here's Why IRS Is Sending Money To 13.9 Million Americans Americans who filed their 2019 tax returns on time but still haven't received their refunds will be getting interest payments from the IRS, which attributes delays in payments to complications caused by COVID-19. The deadline to file tax returns on time was July 15, which was postponed by three months from the original deadline on April 15 due to COVID-19. Payments will be $18 on average, according to a press release from the agency.  Taxpayers whose refunds are typically received via direct deposit -- 12 million of the total 13.9 million set to receive payouts -- will also have this …

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by Christina Coulter
Business
Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card
Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card If a plain white envelope from Omaha, Nebraska arrives in the mail, don’t throw it away. It may be your federal stimulus payment. Last week, the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department began mailing Economic Impact Payments as prepaid debit cards. In addition to a P.O. Box in Omaha, the return address says the letter is from "Money Network Cardholder Services." Nearly 4 million Americans waiting for their slice of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act are expected to get their stimulus money in the form of an EIP Card, as opposed to a paper check signed by President Donald J. Trump. The trouble is, th…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams COVID-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams As more than 80 million Americans have either already received or are awaiting economic stimulus automatic deposits in their bank accounts or checks through the mail,  the Treasury Department is warning of scams associated with the payments. "If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the United States Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, do not respond, "the department said. The Federal T…

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by Joe Lombardi