ARREST SUMMARY REPORT

Jul-Aug-Sep 2009

Tax Enforcement Agents made 35 arrests during the months of July, August and September, starting with a campaign of motor carrier road tax enforcement and then moving on to other cases.  Agents cited three truckers or trucking companies for failure to register their trucks for the tax and/or failing to display registration decals.  Infractions complaint tickets were issued to:

In the first regular criminal case, agents arrested the former operator of a Stamford restaurant. Sabatiello “Sammy” Settembre, 44, of Old Greenwich, was arrested on July 1^st and charged with 13 counts of failure to file sales tax returns and two counts of failure to pay state withholding tax returns for Sabatiello Holding, LLC.  He was later released on a $45,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford Superior Court on October 7, 2009. 

On July 9^th agents arrested Albert DeMattie, 56, of West Haven, for operating the Blackwood Restaurant in West Haven without a valid sales tax permit.  The business later registered, resolved their tax liabilities, and the charge was nolled by the Milford Superior Court. 

On July 15^th agents arrested Peter T. Davis, III, 47, of West Redding, for the second time.  He was first arrested in 2008 on one count of issuing a felony bad check for Davis Tree and Logging of Danbury.  In the most recent arrest, Peter Davis was charged with two counts of failure to pay withholding tax returns and one count of failure to file a withholding tax return for the same business.  He was released after posting a $6,000 cash bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 7, 2009.

The next day, July 16^th, agents arrested Kevin Mau, 51, of Haddam, on six counts of failure to pay sales tax returns for the Iron Chef restaurant in Essex.  He was later presented in the Hartford court on a $30,000 bond, where his case was continued to October 28, 2009.

On July 20^th agents arrested Manual Luis, 51, of Prospect, on seven counts of failure to pay sales tax returns and three counts of failure to file withholding tax returns for Manny’s Pizza restaurant in Waterbury.  He was later released on a written promise to appear in the Hartford court on September 30, 2009.

On July 20^th agents also arrested Frederick Stanley, also known as Frederick Luis, 59, of Wallingford, on ten counts of failure to file sales tax returns and nine counts of failure to file withholding tax returns for Starr Automotive in Meriden.  He was later released on a written promise to appear in the Hartford court on September 30, 2009.

On July 20^th agents also arrested Cindy L. St. John, 53, of Brooklyn, on four counts of failure to pay sales tax returns for Cindy’s Classic Images of Danielson.  She was later released on a $4,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on September 28, 2009.

On July 22^nd agents arrested Edward P. Murphy, 39, of North Haven, on three counts of failure to pay withholding tax returns for P. Murphy Mechanical in Bridgeport.  He was later released on a $2,500 non-surety bond, and is scheduled to appear in the Hartford court on October 16, 2009.

On July 24^th agents arrested Peter L. Falcione, 66, of Milford, on 31 counts of failure to file sales tax returns, four counts of failure to file withholding tax returns, and two counts of failure to pay withholding tax returns for Norwalk Aquarium in Norwalk.  He was later released on a $20,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 16, 2009.

On July 28^th agents arrested Jose A. Gil-Grullon, 41, of Hartford, for operating the Tropical Supermarket in Hartford with a suspended sales tax permit.  The permit had been suspended earlier in the year after he failed to resolve certain state tax liabilities.  He was released on a written promise to appear in the Hartford court on August 11, 2009.

On July 28^th agents also arrested Teresita D. Veras, 45, of Hartford, for operating Vera’s Market in Hartford with a suspended sales tax permit.  The permit had been suspended earlier in the year after she failed to resolve certain state tax liabilities.  She was also released on a written promise to appear in the Hartford court on October 23, 2009.

On August 6^th agents arrested Jose C. De Pena, 45, of Hartford, for selling untaxed cigarettes at Roque Market in Hartford.  Agents seized a quantity of untaxed cigarettes at the time of his arrest.  He was released on a written promise to appear in the Hartford court on October 6, 2009.

The next day, August 7^th, agents arrested Hector A. Lazaro, 36, of Norwalk, for operating Lazaro Foods in Norwalk with a suspended sales tax permit.  The permit had been suspended earlier in the year after he failed to resolve certain state tax liabilities.  Hector Lazaro then appeared in the Hartford court on August 27^th where he was fined $200.00 for the violation.  He is now working to resolve the liabilities.

On August 7^th agents also arrested Michael P. Green, 45, of Waterbury, on 31 counts of failure to pay sales tax returns and seven counts of failure to pay withholding tax returns for Executive Lube in Waterbury.  He was later released on a $38,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 2, 2009.

On August 8^th agents arrested David A. Doyle, 42, of Plantsville, for the second time.  He was first arrested in 2007 on nine counts of failure to file sales tax returns for Woodworkx Custom Woodworking in New Britain.  In the most recent arrest, David Doyle was charged with another six counts of failure to file sales tax returns for the same business.  He was later released on a $6,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 28, 2009.

On August 14^th agents arrested Dariusz Penkiewicz, 32, of Meriden, on four counts of failure to pay sales tax returns for Derek Auto in Meriden.  He was later released on a $20,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 14, 2009.

On August 18^th agents arrested Germania Ortiz, 55, of Hartford, on 14 counts of failure to pay sales tax returns, three counts of failure to file sales tax returns, and six counts of failure to file withholding tax returns for Center Market in Hartford.  She was later released on a $10,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 6, 2009.

The next day, August 19^th, agents arrested Dale T. Hunter, 57, of Meriden, on seven counts of failure to pay sales tax returns and six counts of failure to pay withholding tax returns for Dale’s Auto Body in Meriden.  He was later released on a $10,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 16, 2009.

On August 24^th agents arrested Norman J. Couture, Jr, 42, of Meriden, on ten counts of failure to pay sales tax returns for Mar-Elle Enterprises, Inc. in Meriden.  He was later released on a $10,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 15, 2009.

On August 28^th agents arrested Christopher C. Nicholas, 38, of Torrington, on 11 counts of failure to pay sales tax returns for Clearview Restaurant Maintenance in Torrington.  He was later released on a $13,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 16, 2009.

On September 1^st agents arrested David C. Thibodeau, 36, of Kensington, for the second time.  He was first arrested in 2000 for failure to file sales tax returns for Mid State Landscaping in New Britain.  In the most recent arrest, David Thibodeau was charged with 11 counts of failure to file sales tax returns and two counts of failure to file withholding tax returns for Ameriscape, LLC in Kensington.  He was later released on a $25,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 19, 2009.

On September 9^th agents arrested Maureen Clark, 55, of Stonington, on 18 counts of failure to pay more than $83,000 in room occupancy tax returns, 11 counts of failure to pay more than $72,000 in sales tax returns, five counts of failure to file sales tax returns, and five counts of failure to file room occupancy tax returns for McGrath Hotels, LLC, d/b/a the Lighthouse Inn Resort and Conference Center in New London.  She was later released on a $10,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 1, 2009.

On September 9^th agents also arrested Robin Boucher, 56, of Bridgeport, for operating Kennedy Studios in Fairfield with a suspended sales tax permit.  The permit had been suspended earlier in the year after she failed to resolve certain state tax liabilities.  She was later released on a written promise to appear in the Bridgeport Superior Court on October 15, 2009.

On September 10^th agents made the first of two arrests related to an income tax fraud and refund theft ring.  Jesus A. Soto, 26, of Bristol, was charged with two counts of filing false state income tax returns, and one count each of larceny first degree, conspiracy, and attempted larceny first degree.  He was later presented in the Hartford court on a $25,000 bond, where his case was continued to October 21, 2009.

A few days later, on September 16^th, agents arrests Raymond J. Arroyo-Rivera, 27 of Hartford, on six counts of filing false state income tax returns, three counts of larceny first degree, two counts of attempted larceny first degree, and one count each of conspiracy and attempted larceny second degree.  He was released after posting a $25,000 bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on September 30, 2009.  All of the charges from both arrests are felonies.  Conviction on each count can bring imprisonment of up to 10 or 20 years.

On September 11^th agents arrested Timmy Tsopanides, 45, of Orange, for operating the Kimberly Diner in Milford with a suspended sales tax permit.  The permit had been suspended earlier in the year after he failed to resolve certain state tax liabilities.  He was later released on a written promise to appear in the Milford Superior Court on October 6, 2009.

On September 22^nd agents arrested Carlos A. DaRosa, 45, of Waterbury, on six counts of failure to pay sales tax returns and one count of failure to file a sales tax return for Kriola, LLC in Waterbury.  He was later released on a $5,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 6, 2009.

The next day, September 23^rd, agents arrested Gabriel A. Canestri, 54, of North Haven, on 11 counts of failure to pay sales tax returns for Eastern Plumbing & Heating in New Haven.  He was later released on a $10,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 14, 2009.

On September 24^th agents arrested Raymond J. Pacheco, 53, of Enfield, on ten counts of failure to file sales tax returns for Pacheco & Son autobody in Enfield.  He was later released on a $10,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 8, 2009.

On September 25^th agents arrested Joseph T. Bonyai, 57, of Torrington, on 16 counts of failure to file sales tax returns and four counts of failure to pay sales tax returns for Winsted Automotive in Winsted.  He was later released on a $25,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 8, 2009.

Also on September 25^th, agents arrested Dorothy E. Lewis, 39, of Shelton, for operating Chateau De Bow Wow in Shelton with a suspended sales tax permit.  The permit had been suspended earlier in the year after she failed to resolve certain state tax liabilities.  She was later released on a written promise to appear in the Derby Superior Court on October 9, 2009.

Finally, on September 28^th agents arrested Eduardo Guiza, 50, of Cos Cob, on three counts of failure to file sales tax returns and three counts of failure to file withholding tax returns for EG Contractor, Inc. in Cos Cob.  He was later released on a $6,000 non-surety bond, and will appear in the Hartford court on October 7, 2009.