A Muttontown man was arrested Tuesday for failing to give the state and county nearly $800,000 in sales and gasoline tax he collected at his Syosset gas station and auto repair shop, Nassau prosecutors said.
Michael Ferrari, 43, was charged with grand larceny and faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Michael Ferrari
Between March 2002 and February 2007, Ferrari, the owner of a gas station on Jackson Avenue and Ferrari’s Auto Repair, failed to remit the taxes to both New York State and Nassau County, Nassau prosecutors said. The total amount stolen is $794,475.97, according to New York State Department of Taxation and Finance officials.
“Mr. Ferrari stole from every honest taxpayer out there who is working hard and playing by the rules,” said Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice in a statement. “He lined his pockets with our hard-earned tax dollars and I’m not going to rest until he pays every last cent back to us.”
Ferrari’s attorney, Bernard Mark of Great Neck-based Kestenbaum & Mark, was not immediately available for comment.
“Stealing sales tax robs honest people of money that supports education, transportation and health services,” said Jamie Woodward, acting commissioner of the state tax department. “This arrest serves as a warning to those who believe tax fraud is profitable and illustrates our commitment to aggressively pursue tax criminals.”
