Auto Collision Repair Shops Owner Convicted of Tax Fraud for Failing to Pay Sales Tax in New York

Jose Cardona was convicted of tax fraud after failing to pay more than $700,000 in sales taxes. Reports say Cardona owned two auto collision repair shops in Nassau County in New York.

An investigation conducted by the Department of Taxation and Finance and the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit of the Office of the Attorney General revealed that the auto collision repair shops owned by Jose Cardona, 45, collected but failed to remit more than $700,000 in sales taxes to the state of New York between June 2010 and November 2015.

As a result, Abruzzese stated that Letitia James, the Attorney General of the State, and Amanda Hiller, the Acting New York Commissioner of Taxation and Finance, announced the convictions of two of Cardona’s auto collision repair shops in Nassau County. Further reports say the auto collision repair shops were Henry Street Auto Body and No Limit Auto Body.

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Charges of Auto Collision Repair Shops And Owner

According to Boyle, the auto collision repair shops owner pleaded guilty to one count each of criminal tax fraud in the fourth degree and criminal tax fraud in the third degree. To date, reports say the auto collision repair shops owner has already paid more than $700,000 in compensation to the Tax Department.

Furthermore, both the auto collision repair shops owner and his wife, Veronica Cardona, 44, faced charges of failing to file personal income tax returns for 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and filing a false personal income tax return for 2011 which resulted in an underpayment of more than $204,000 in personal income taxes.

Ultimately, the auto collision repair shops owner was sentenced to six months in prison and five years of probation. In addition, Veronica and both auto collision repair shops were sentenced by Acting Supreme Court Justice Meryl J. Berkowitz.

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