Two Monroe County Business Owners Plead Guilty to Stealing Sales Tax
Both business owners scheduled to be sentenced next month for grand larceny
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The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office today announced two guilty pleas for the theft of sales tax in Monroe County.
Virginia Reed, 63, owner of PC Innovations, and Brendon West, 37, owner of Calios, admitted they failed to pay sales tax paid by their customers to New York State as required by law.
“Business owners who steal sales tax paid by their customers deprive their communities of revenue for vital public programs and services and put law-abiding businesses at a competitive disadvantage,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt. “We’ll continue to work with all levels of law enforcement, including the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, to root out tax evasion and level the playing field for all businesses.”
“Theft of sales tax is a purely selfish crime that negatively impacts the entire community,” said Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley. “Partnerships with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance are critical in the successful prosecution of these important cases. I want to thank the Assistant District Attorneys in my Economic Crimes Bureau who work diligently on these cases and help to restore these stolen funds to our community.”
Virginia Reed, owner of PC Innovations located at 3699 West Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to grand larceny after stealing more than $96,000 in sales tax collected from her customers. Reed provided Tax Department investigators with false invoices that misrepresented her actual sales. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26 to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount she stole.
Brendon West, owner of Calios, which is a take-out restaurant located in both Rochester and Brockport, NY, stole approximately $85,000 in sales tax collected from customers. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12 to five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution for the amount he stole.
Report fraud
You can report tax evasion and fraud online at the Tax Department's website or by phone at 518-457-0578. The information is kept confidential. The Tax Department promptly reviews each complaint and takes corrective action when appropriate.
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