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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
News
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
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
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
News
Fifth Man Pleads Guilty On Long Island To $2M Scheme Impersonating Federal Employees Fifth Man Pleads Guilty On Long Island To $2M Scheme Impersonating Federal Employees
Fifth Man Pleads Guilty On Long Island To $2M Scheme Impersonating Federal Employees An Indian national became the fifth person to plead guilty in federal court on Long Island to federal charges for his role in running a multi-million dollar transnational fraud scheme. Ajay Sharma, a citizen of India who served as the director and owner of APS Technology, a telemarketing call center located in New Delhi, pleaded guilty this week in Central Islip federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a fraudulent scheme targeting thousands of Americans. Four of Sharma’s co-conspirators - Bellrose resident Ankur Sharma, Queens Village resident Harpreet Singh, Hu…

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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
News
Long Island Accountant Arrested for Allegedly Stealing More Than $320K From Two Clients Long Island Accountant Arrested for Allegedly Stealing More Than $320K From Two Clients
Long Island Accountant Arrested for Allegedly Stealing More Than $320K From Two Clients A Long Island accountant will face more than a decade behind bars after he was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $320,000 from a pair of clients. Baldwin resident Francisco Esquivel, 65, the owner of Lore Franc, Inc. in Hempstead, was arraigned on Thursday, Aug. 20 for allegedly embezzling $327,499 from two local business owners between 2012 and 2017. District Attorney Madeline Singas said that Esquivel’s victims hired his company to pay their quarterly taxes, Workers Compensation Insurance, and manage payrolls. Esquivel’s first victim was approached by an employee of Lore Frank in…

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by Zak Failla
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
News
COVID-19: Some Could Now Start Getting Stimulus Checks By Direct Deposit COVID-19: Some Could Now Start Getting Stimulus Checks By Direct Deposit
Covid-19: Some Could Now Start Getting Stimulus Checks By Direct Deposit Relief is coming for millions of Americans coping with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as the federal government begins making payments. The House Ways and Means Committee said the IRS will make approximately 60 million payments to Americans through direct deposit in mid-April, with some expected as soon as Thursday, April 9. Those without direct deposit information on file at the IRS may not receive their checks until the summer or fall. U.S. residents will receive the Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 for individual or head of household filers, and $2,400 for married filing jo…

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by Zak Failla