New Canaan Pizzeria Accountant Sentenced For Tax Offense: Feds

NEW CANAAN, CT — An accountant for a New Canaan pizzeria, as well as a number of other area restaurants, was sentenced to probation Wednesday for a federal tax offense.

James Guerra, 59, of Dix Hills, N.Y., was sentenced to three years of probation, the first two months of which must be spent in home confinement. Guerra has also been ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, Acting U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Leonard Boyle said in a news release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Guerra worked as an accountant for Bruno DiFabio, an owner of several pizza restaurants in Connecticut and New York, including Pinocchio Pizza LLC, doing business as Pinocchio Pizza in New Canaan.

DiFabio also has various ownership interests in Pinocchio Pizza in Wilton, Amore Cucina and Bar in Stamford, ReNapoli Pizza, in Old Greenwich, Amore Pizza in Scarsdale, N.Y., and Pinocchio Pizza in Pound Ridge, N.Y., Boyle said.

According to Boyle, DiFabio is accused of removing cash from the restaurants' cash registers and not depositing it into the restaurants' bank account. Boyle said Guerra was aware that DiFabio had a practice of paying his employees in cash.

See also: New Canaan Pizzeria Owner Sentenced To Prison: Feds

"Although Guerra was aware that DiFabio was failing to collect required withholding taxes from his employees and, in turn, not paying over these taxes to the IRS, Guerra reviewed and approved DiFabio's quarterly tax returns that DiFabio subsequently signed and filed with the IRS," Boyle said in a news release.

On Jan. 25, Guerra pleaded guilty to one count of assisting the willful failure to collect and pay over withholding taxes.