Queens Restaurant and Nightclub to Pay More Than $1 Million in Restitution After Guilty Plea to Multiple Felonies

 

Mamajuana Queens failed to send the sales tax it collected from customers to New York State

 The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the Queens District Attorney’s Office today announced Mamajuana Queens, a restaurant and nightclub located at 33-15 56th Street, Queens, and its owner Oscar Monegro, Jr., pled guilty to multiple felonies, including grand larceny and criminal tax fraud.

Between December 2012 and February 2020, Monegro collected at least $1 million in sales tax from customers to his business, Culturas Fiesta Corporation, doing business as Mamajuana Queens. He underreported sales and failed to send the sales tax collected to New York State as required by law.

Tax Department investigators uncovered the crimes by analyzing sales tax and corporation tax returns. In all, Monegro, Jr., was ordered to pay back $1 million in restitution.

“Business owners who steal sales tax paid by their customers deprive their communities of revenue for vital public programs and services and put law-abiding businesses at a competitive disadvantage,” said Acting New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Amanda Hiller. “We’ll continue to work with all our partners in law enforcement to uncover tax evasion and level the playing field for all businesses.”

The Queens District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “The defendant and his business, Culturas Fiesta Corporation, admitted guilt in stealing at least a million dollars in tax revenue paid by customers in order line his own pockets. Tax evasion hurts our economy and diverts funding away from vital public programs. This will not stand in Queens County, and we thank the State Department of Taxation and Finance for their partnership in bringing this defendant to justice. He has been ordered to pay restitution, which will help fund community services.”

Report fraud

You can report tax evasion and fraud online at the Tax Department's website or by phone at 518-457-0578. The information is kept confidential. The Tax Department promptly reviews each complaint and takes corrective action when appropriate.