The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has issued a press release detailing the theft of $196,000 in sales taxes by a restauranteur. The Rochester area man "pled guilty as charged" for the theft, which took place over a period of three years.
In order to steal the sales taxes collected from customers, Robert J. Bryant filed 18 false sales tax returns. He now faces two counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree (a class D felony), Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a class C felony), and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (a class E felony). He faces up to fifteen years in New York prison.
While no sentencing date has been set, Bryant has been ordered by the court to "being repaying the State the $196,583.00 of stolen sales tax."
Regarding the case, Department of Taxation and Finance Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox assured that "tax laws are equitably and impartially enforced."
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