New Rochelle Accountant Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $200K From Client: DA

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A Westchester County accountant is accused of helping himself to his client's money. according to prosecutors.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that the New Rochelle accountant was arrested Wednesday by the District Attorney's Law Enforcement Unit, accused of stealing approximately $200,000 from a client.

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Carmine Disanto, 59, was charged with grand larceny in the second degree, in connection with the theft. Disanto was also charged with two felony counts of criminal tax fraud, and one count of felony repeated failure to file, for repeatedly failing to file his state tax returns or remit the appropriate payment to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Disanto's wife, Patricia Kruse Disanto, 57, of New Rochelle, was also arrested Wednesday and charged with two felony counts each of repeated failure to file and offering a false instrument for filing.

The couple were arraigned Wednesday. Disanto is due back in court on Aug. 7, and Kruse Disanto is due back in court on July 26.

"A fraud perpetrated on the state is a fraud perpetrated against all of us,"Cacace said. "That one of the defendants is a public servant is a further affront to the rest of us in Westchester who dutifully pay our taxes each year. My office will work to ensure that the plumbing business allegedly defrauded by Mr. Disanto to the tune of $200,000 is made whole."

As alleged in a felony complaint filed with the New Rochelle City Court, Disanto, an accountant, was hired by a plumbing business as a consultant. Disanto is accused of using his access to the business' financial accounts to write unauthorized checks to himself totaling approximately $200,000.

Disanto also failed to file state tax returns or remit the appropriate payment to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance over a period of years, from 2021 to 2024, according to the DA, His cumulative state tax liability for these years totaled $36,155, prosecutors said.

According to a felony complaint filed with the New Rochelle City Court, Kruse Disanto, a civilian employee of the Harrison Police Department, failed to file state tax returns or remit the appropriate payment to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance over a period of years, from 2021 to 2024. The defendant's cumulative state tax liability for these years totaled $1,633, prosecutors said,

This case was investigated by the Economic Crimes Bureau, forensic accountant Michael Frenza, in addition to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the North Castle Police Department. The arrests were processed by the Law Enforcement Unit within the Westchester County District Attorney's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicole Gamble, of the Economic Crimes Bureau.