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New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Robert L. Megna today announced that an Erie County used car dealer was arrested and pleaded guilty to stealing state and local sales taxes collected from his customers and failing to remit them to the Department of Tax and Finance.
Craig T. Cawthon, of 31 Northrup Place, Buffalo, New York, the owner of C& C Auto Sales, 1671 Genesee Street, also in Buffalo, admitted to filing false New York State sales tax returns for the period of June 1, 2003 through August 31, 2006.
Cawthon failed to report more than $559,000 in taxable sales and stole $46,830 in sales tax receipts. Cawthon was arraigned in Erie County Court on Thursday March 20, and convicted of Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree, a class D felony. He pleaded guilty as a second felony offender and, as such, faces a minimum of two-to-four years in prison and a maximum of seven years.
Cawthon was released on his own recognizance and will be sentenced in Erie County Court on June 9, 2008.
Commissioner Megna said: "This case is yet another prosecution arising out of our investigation of sales tax fraud by various cash businesses, including used car dealers. Sales tax fraud not only deprives state and local governments of needed tax revenues, but it also defrauds customers who have paid the sales tax. I commend Erie County District Attorney Frank J. Clark and Assistant District Attorney James Auricchio for their aggressive prosecution of these cases."
This case and four other Western New York used car dealers arrested earlier this week were investigated by the Department's Special Investigation Unit offices in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.
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Last Modified: March 21, 2008
