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DISTRICT ATTORNEY - NEW YORK COUNTY | ||
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News Release |
Contact: Barbara Thompson | |
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Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the arrests of 10 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employees on charges of failing to file or filing false New York City and New York State tax returns. Nine of the defendants failed to file their personal income tax returns for at least three consecutive years and, in addition, claimed 99 withholding allowances or exempt filing status. One of the defendants has been charged with filing false tax returns in which he claimed a refund to which he wasn't entitled. As a result of the defendants' actions, New York City and State lost approximately $112,500 in tax revenue. The investigation began in 2001 when the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance began an investigation into MTA employees who claimed 99 exemptions, which effectively meant that no taxes were withheld. As part of that continuing investigation, a number of cases were referred to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. The defendants charged by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office were arrested yesterday at the Office of the Inspector General of the MTA. The investigation into other employees at the MTA involved in similar tax schemes is continuing. Many of the defendants are long-time MTA employees holding jobs as train operators, bus drivers, station managers or supervisors, and cleaners. Their salaries range from a low of $39,000 to a high of $72,000. The defendants are: · AARON ADAMS, a station cleaner for 12 years, failed to file from 1995-2000, evading $13,023.65. His salary in 2000 was $39,041.00. · ROBERT CARSON, a station cleaner for 17 years, failed to file from 1996-2000, evading $12,790.41. His salary in 2000 was $52,872.00 · LLOYD FRANCIS, a bus operator for 5 years, failed to file from 1998-2000, evading $10,396.14. His salary in 2000 was $69,752.00. · HELEN MURRAY, a station agent for 18 years, failed to file from 1996-2000, evading $10,715.42. Her salary in 2000 was $48,584.43. · KYLE NELSON, a train operator for 11 years, filed false income returns 1998-2000. His salary in 2000 was $72,180.00. Although he owed $8,553 in taxes, he falsely claimed a refund of $7,952.59 · BILLY ROSADO, a station agent for 9 years, failed to file from 1996-2000, evading $13,866.38. His salary in 2000 was $53,988.00 · DENISE SEAMON, a station supervisor for 16 years, failed to file from 1999-2001, evading $9,965.28. Her salary in 2001 was $69,927.00. · JAMES SMALLS, a train operator for 14 years, failed to filed from 1997-2000, evading $16,331.44. His salary in 2000 was $54,309.00 · HOWARD VANDERBURG, a station agent for 23 years, failed to file from 1996-2000, evading $16,978.44. His salary in 2000 was $62,406.38 · DUANE WISE, a track worker for 11 years, failed to file from 1996-2001, evading $23,457.88. His salary in 2001 was $64,828.70. Assistant District Attorney Joel R. Meyers of the District Attorney's Money Laundering and Tax Crimes Unit is in charge of the cases under the supervision of Gilda Mariani, Chief of the Unit. Mr. Morgenthau thanked: the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance: Pete Farrell - Deputy Commissioner of Tax Enforcement, Nicholas Reynolds - Director of Revenue Crimes Bureau, Investigator Paul Gouck, Investigator James McCue, Investigator Cheryl Holland, Investigator James Carrick, Investigator Adam Schneider, Investigator Jason Jerome, Tax Auditor John Flanagan, Tax Auditor Virginia Urzi, Tax Auditor Elaine Sullivan; the MTA Inspector General's Office: Chief Investigator Michael Sweeney, Principal Investigator Gerard Donoghue. Repeated Failure to File and Filing False Instruments are class E felonies
which are punishable by up to 4 years in prison.
### DEFENDANT INFORMATION: Aaron Adams (10/3/50) Robert Carson (11/8/62) Francis Lloyd (5/29/50) Helen Murray (11/30/51) Kyle Nelson (9/26/64) Billy Rosado (5/13/60) Denise Seamon (10/16/54) James Smalls (5/1/55) Howard Vanderburg Duane Wise (11/5/64)
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