6 Suffolk Business Owners Accused Of Tax Fraud

LONG ISLAND, NY — Six Long Island business owners were charged with tax fraud and accused of failing to pay the state more than $330,000, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini.

Sini said Tuesday the following business owners were accused of filing false tax returns:

• Vincent Corelli, 46, of Mastic Beach, owner of Corelli Drywall in Shirley, was charged with three counts of fourth-degree criminal tax fraud and three counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He allegedly filed false tax returns for tax years 2015 through 2017 to evade payment of $44,286 in taxes.
• Peter Cucurullo, 65, of Bethpage, owner of Maple Place Auto Body in Amityville, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal tax fraud, fourth-degree grand larceny, and two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He allegedly filed false tax returns for tax years 2016 and 2017 to evade payment of $32,840 in personal income taxes. He also allegedly collected and failed to remit $41,906.36 in sales tax revenue owed to the New York State Department of Tax and Finance for 2016 and 2017.
• Joseph Divilio, 56, of Hauppauge, owner of Perfect Bodies Auto Body in Bohemia, was charged with fourth-degree criminal tax fraud, fourth-degree grand larceny, and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He is alleged to have a filed false tax return for 2017 to evade payment of $5,214 in personal income taxes. He is also alleged to have collected and failed to remit $61,919 in sales tax revenue owed to the New York State Department of Tax and Finance for the years 2014 through 2018.
• Russell Regan, 61, of East Islip, owner of All Star Restoration in Holbrook, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal tax fraud and two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He is alleged to have filed false tax returns for tax years 2015 and 2016 to evade payment of $44,287 in personal income taxes.
• Jonathan Rubin, 55, of Lido Beach, owner of East End Builders and Associates in Shirley, was charged with four counts of fourth-degree criminal tax fraud, and four counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He is alleged to have filed false tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2017 to evade payment of $52,611 in personal income taxes and $12,933 in corporate taxes.
• Andres Suarez, 49, of Brentwood, owner of A1 Collision Specialists Corporation in Deer Park, was charged with three counts of fourth-degree criminal tax fraud, and three counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. He allegedly filed false tax returns for tax years 2015 through 2017 to evade payment of $41,795 in personal income taxes.

The six defrauded New York out of $337,811.36 in taxes, according to the DA.

"We are now less than two weeks out from tax day, which was extended this year due to the pandemic," Sini said. "This has undoubtedly been a tough year for many businesses and business owners, but that does not excuse cutting corners at the expense of taxpayers by failing to pay their fair share of taxes."

If convicted of the top count, each person faces a maximum sentence of one to four years in prison.

Regan was arraigned Tuesday; Rubin was arraigned April 14; Corelli, Cucurello and Divilio were arraigned April 6; and Suarez was arraigned Feb. 23, the DA. All six were released on their own recognizance.

"This is money that would have made a difference in the lives of area residents by funding public programs and services," New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt said. "Instead, they used it for their own personal gain."