Five in Nassau County arrested on state tax evasion charges

January 19, 2010
By ZACHARY R. DOWDY

Five Nassau County men were arraigned Tuesday on state tax evasion-related charges, with authorities saying they failed to file taxes for years, withholding nearly $365,000 in tax revenue, and that they could each be imprisoned for several years if convicted.

The men were arrested in a sweep by the state Department of Taxation and Finance and district attorneys. State officials reported alleged tax evaders to local district attorneys.

"The five defendants arrested today have gotten rich by stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from honest taxpayers across this state," Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. "My office will work to ensure that every dime is repaid."

The suspects were arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead. David Mollon, 47, of Great Neck, was charged with third-degree criminal tax fraud and failure to file a personal income tax return for 2008. He also is charged with failing to file state tax returns from 2006 to 2008 and failure to pay $117,000 in taxes.

Kelly Talcott, 50, of Sea Cliff, was charged with third-degree criminal tax fraud and failure to file personal income taxes from 2002 to 2005 and again in 2008, and authorities said he failed to pay $111,000 in taxes.

Gerald Gartner, 53, of Lawrence, was charged with third-degree criminal tax fraud and repeated failure to file personal income tax returns from 2005 to 2008, and he allegedly failed to pay $68,900 in taxes.

Avelino Rosales, 62, of Cedarhurst, was charged with repeated failure to file personal income tax returns from 2002 to 2006 and authorities said he failed to pay $44,000 in taxes.

Dennis O'Leary, 57, of Westbury, was charged with repeated failure to file personal income taxes and fifth-degree criminal tax fraud. Authorities said he failed to file state tax returns from 2004 to 2008 and failed to pay $23,000 in taxes.

O'Leary's attorney, Cornell Bouse, denied the allegations: "This certainly was not an intention to keep any money from the government."

The other defendants' attorneys declined to comment or could not be reached.

By By ZACHARY R. DOWDY
Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2010

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