OAG: Colonie car dealer skipped business taxes, owes over $160K
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Police arrested Guy Kennedy Nicolas, owner of G&A Auto Care Inc. According to the Office of the Attorney General and the state's Acting Tax Commissioner, he failed to report business income and pay over $160,000 in state sales taxes.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and Acting Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Amanda Hiller sent out a press release describing how Nicolas decided not to report over $2 million in sales to New York. They alleged that he only filed two business tax returns for the dealership over 11 years. If convicted of the six felony charges he faces, he could serve up to 15 years in prison
The joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF), the New York State Police (NYSP), and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) determine that Nicolas was solely responsible for the business. He was arraigned on April 11 and ultimately indicted on:
- Second-degree grand larceny
- Third-degree criminal tax fraud
- Four counts of fourth-degree criminal tax fraud
“New Yorkers should be able to trust that the local businesses in their communities follow the rules and pay their fair share of taxes,” Attorney General James said in a written statement announcing the arrest and indictment. “Failing to pay taxes is not only illegal, it cheats New Yorkers across the state out of quality public services they rely on."