New York Auto Repair Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

A New York man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States relating to his efforts to conceal income from the IRS. According to court documents and statements made in court, Aniello Strocchia, of Maspeth, owned and operated an auto repair shop. From 2013 to 2017, Strocchia, along with others, cashed more than $1.3 million in checks payable to his auto shop at check-cashing businesses instead of depositing those funds into the business’ bank account.

If convicted, Strocchia faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Strocchia concealed the check-cashing activity from his tax return preparers which resulted in the filing of false tax returns that underreported the auto repair shop’s gross receipts and ordinary business income, as well his total personal income. Strocchia used the unreported income on personal expenditures, including luxury car purchases and approximately $500,000 in extensive home renovations.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York made the announcement. The IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Matthew Cofer and Ann M. Cherry of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.