DA: Man Stole $190G Meant for Taxes

A Garden City man was charged Thursday with stealing nearly $190,000 over eight years by committing tax fraud, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Douglas Donnelly, 50, was arraigned Thursday on charges of second-degree grand larceny, four counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, and three counts of third-degree criminal tax fraud, the DA said.

Donnelly was released on his own recognizance by Judge Darlene Harris. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge, officials said.

• Sign up for your local Patch newsletter and breaking news alerts here

Between March 2008 and February 2014, Donnelly failed to file tax returns and underreported sales for three auto body shops he ran, the DA said. During that time, Donnelly failed to remit a total of $188,198.93 from Mineola-Jericho Auto Body, Inc., Trinity Auto Body, Ltd., and Trinity’s Mineola Jericho Auto Body Ltd., officials said.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance investigated records from the three companies and discovered the discrepancies, the DA said. Officials said they also found certain quarters where tax returns were never filed.

“Customers who pay sales tax to businesses should be sure that the money they are spending is going towards vital government services and not in the business owner’s pocket,” Acting DA Madeline Singas said. “Businesses that don’t remit sales tax money are stealing from the state, the county and their customers.’

Donnelly is due back in court on April 16.

Photo: Douglas Donnelly. Credit: NCDA

More on Patch:

• 12 Executive Assistant Jobs in Nassau
• Police: Pair Sold Drugs to Undercover Cop in Front of Their Children
• Ex-Boyfriend Arrested in Fatal Glen Cove Stabbing
• Hempstead Code Enforcer Tells Coach He Looks Like a Pedophile
• Long Beach’s Joan Jett to Be Inducted to Rock Hall of Fame
• Help Find This Lost Dog in Malverne
• Report: Garden City Man Shot Himself in the Leg
• Man Robs Holbrook Bank
• Wow House: 3-Bed, 3-Bath West Babylon Home
• Police: Teen Falsely Reported Man With Rifle in Massapequa
• Police Release Photos of Man Wanted in Lindenhurst Jewelry Store Robbery
• Long Beach’s Joan Jett to Be Inducted to Rock Hall of Fame
• Police: Greenport Man Arrested For Sexually Abusing 3-Year-Old Girl