The mayor of Muttontown and her husband were arrested April 6 for allegedly failing to file tax returns for five years, according to the Nassau County District Attorney.
According to district attorney Madeline Singas, Muttontown mayor Julianne Beckerman, 48, and her husband Adam Beckerman, 55, were arraigned and now face a slew of charges, including second-degree criminal tax fraud, tow counts of third-degree criminal tax fraud, fourth-degree criminal tax fraud and three counts of repeated failure to file personal income and earnings taxes.
“While nobody likes taxes, we are obligated to file them and pay our fair share, so it’s especially disturbing that a doctor and an elected official allegedly failed to file their taxes for five years,” said Singas. “My office works very closely with the State Department of Taxation and Finance to build criminal cases and our message is clear: file your taxes or face prosecution.”
The mayor, and her husband a gastroenterologist, both of Muttontown, were released on their own recognizance after being ordered to surrender their passports. If convicted, they face a maximum of five to 15 years in prison.
Singas said following a joint investigation conducted by the Nassau County District Attorney and state Department of Taxation and Finance, it was determined that the defendants allegedly failed to file state personal tax returns for tax years 2010-14, despite earning during those five years a total income in excess of $4.5 million. After reviewing extensive records, it was determined that the Beckermans allegedly owe taxes in the amount of $243,865.
“When taxpayers, especially elected officials who are supposed to lead by example, fail to pay their fair share of taxes, it hurts all honest New Yorkers by forcing them to shell out more of their hard-earned money to cover the difference,” said New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Nonie Manion. “Our agency will continue to work with law enforcement organizations across the state to protect New Yorkers from tax fraud crimes.”
