R’Wood Man Busted For Tax Fraud
The owner of a Glendale auto body shop who resides in Ridgewood was among five individuals recently arrested in a series of separate tax evasion cases, prosecutors announced last Thursday, Apr. 5.
Michael Porcelli, 63, of Ridgewood, who owns Central Automotive and Collision Services and Central Automotive Enterprises located at 64-25 Central Ave. in Glendale, was arrested last month on charges that he allegedly failed to remit to the state over $56,000 in payroll taxes for three employees at his company between
2003 and 2010.
According to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown and State Taxation Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox, the scheme was reportedly uncovered after the affected employees filed their personal income tax returns.
Porcelli was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Mar. 26 on charges of second-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first-degree scheme to defraud and failing to file and pay taxes. If convicted, prosecutors noted, he faces up to seven years behind bars.
The other four tax evasion cases, as announced by Brown and Mattox last Thursday, include the following:
– Manhattan resident David Schnall, 50, who has an office at 153- 01 Jamaica Ave. in Jamaica, was booked last month on charges that he allegedly failed to file personal income taxes between 2001 and 2010. Prosecutors stated that as a result, he denied the state of over $53,000 in revenue.
After being contacted by state tax representatives, according to the charges, Schnall allegedly sent to the state unsigned tax returns between 2007 and 2010, but without paying any liability.
Schnall was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Mar. 29 on charges of second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, thirddegree criminal tax fraud, failure to file a return or report and failure to pay tax. He was released on his own recognizance; if convicted, the suspect faces up to 15 years in prison.
– Gregory Greene, 43, of Elmont, L.I., and owner of Greene Team Realty at 190-90 Linden Blvd. in St. Albans, was charged with allegedly underreporting his income while working as a tax preparer in 2008 and 2009. Law enforcement sources said that the state was deprived of over $51,000 in payments as a result of the scheme.
According to the charges, Greene allegedly met with an undercover tax representative who claimed to be self-employed. In prepareing the agent’s taxes, law enforcement sources said, Greene allegedly reduced his business income while increasing related expenses.
It is alleged that the suspect did not provide to the state any supporting documentation upon submitting the return.
Greene was arraigned last Thursday, Apr. 5, on charges of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, first-degree falsifying business records, third-degree attempted grand larceny, first-degree attempted offering a false instrument for filing and attempted falsifying business records and various violations of state tax law. He faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted.
– Marc Zazeela, 54, of Briarwood, was charged earlier this month for allegedly failing to file income tax returns between 2001 and 2009 and avoiding an estimated liability of over $40,000.
He was arraigned last Monday, Apr. 2, in Queens Criminal Court on charges of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, repeated failure to file, criminal tax fraud and failure to pay. Zazeela was released on his own recognizance; he faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
– Ralph Duthley, 50, an attorney from Jamaica, was also charged last month for allegedly failing to file personal income tax returns between 2007 and 2009. As a result, prosecutors charged, he avoided an estimated liability of over $17,000.
Duthley was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, failure to file returns, criminal tax fraud and failure to pay. He was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Mar. 31 and released on his own recognizance; if convicted, he faces up to seven years behind bars.
Members of the state Department of Taxation and Finance conducted the investigation with the assistance of Detectives James Monaco and Daniel Mulligan of the NYPD Queens District Attorney Squad, under the supervision of Sgt. Francis Teran, Lt. Keith Gallagher and Capt. John Zanfardino and the overall supervision of Chief Louis M. Croce Jr. and Chief of Detectives Phil T. Pulaski.
The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Neil F. Gitin of the D.A.’s Economic Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Gregory C. Pavlides, bureau chief, and Christina Hanophy, deputy bureau chief.
It was noted that each of the criminal complaints are accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
