Ex-Fulop Advisor Tom Bertoli Of Matawan Charged With Tax Evasion

MATAWAN, NJ — A Matawan man who was a former political consultant for Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop was charged Wednesday with tax evasion, corrupt interference with the administration of IRS laws and failure to file a federal tax return, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Thomas Bertoli, 62, of Matawan was charged with two counts of tax evasion and the above charges.

It was Bloomberg News that first reported last June that Bertoli was under a federal investigation for failing to pay taxes on millions he was given from Jersey City developers.

(Fulop was not accused of any wrongdoing and was not aware of any federal probe into Bertoli, his spokeswoman told the media at the time.)

Federal prosecutors say Bertoli operated the following businesses: The Doormen Inc.; City Street Associates LLC, a/k/a CSA LLC; and Urban Logistics LLC. Individually and through his companies, Bertoli obtained payments from clients for services provided, including payments from developers and construction firms for expediting services on real estate development and construction projects, primarily in Jersey City; and payments from political campaigns for political consulting services in New Jersey.

Expediting in the construction industry typically refers to facilitating the acquisition of building permits and other government agency approvals required for the completion of real estate projects.

Bertoli obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in gross receipts for calendar years 2009 to 2016. Bertoli had not, as of April 18, 2017, filed federal tax returns or paid any of the taxes due, other than a $5,000 nominal payment in September 2014, for those years, say the feds. He concealed and attempted to conceal from the IRS his income and assets through various means; Bertoli cashed at check cashers payments from his clients, made false and fraudulent statements to the IRS, and used the Urban Logistics bank account for personal expenditures, say federal prosecutors.

Bertoli is charged with tax evasion for calendar years 2009 to 2013 and evasion of assessment of taxes for calendar year 2014. He also is charged with corrupt interference with the administration of the Internal Revenue laws and failing to file a tax return for calendar year 2013.

He is facing prison time and a fine. Bertoli has not been taken into custody and was summoned to appear in federal court at a later date.