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 TRENTON
– New Jersey Treasurer John E. McCormac announced that Jeffre
and Cynthia Levy of Cherry Hill, N.J., have been charged with tax evasion
for failing to pay the State almost $170,000 in sales and income taxes
owed by several janitorial businesses the couple operated.
The
criminal complaints filed against the Levys allege that, between 1994
and 2001, the couple collected sales tax from customers of their janitorial
companies and withheld income tax from their employees’ wages
but failed to file returns and forward the taxes to the State. A joint
investigation conducted by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office
and the New Jersey Division of Taxation’s Office of Criminal Investigation
revealed that the Levys attempted to hide the diversion of funds by
operating through a succession of business entities: Executive Maintenance
Company, Executive Maintenance, Inc., and Executive Maintenance Industries,
Inc. The companies, all located in Cherry Hill, N.J., were owned by
one or both of the Levys.
“The
penalties for tax fraud are severe,” said Treasurer McCormac.
“Businesses that collect sales tax or withhold income tax from
wages are acting as trustees for the SexyÕæÈËy. When business
owners violate that trust by keeping the money instead of turning it
over to the State, they are committing a criminal offense.”
The
Levys, accompanied by their attorney, turned themselves in at Cherry
Hill Police Headquarters late last week and were released with summonses.
Both face two second-degree charges, each carrying a maximum 10-year
prison sentence; one third-degree charge, carrying a maximum five-year
prison term; and fines of up to double the amount of tax evaded.
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