Bronx Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty To $500,000 Tax Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft And Passport Fraud

   Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced that REBECCA BAYUO pled guilty today to charges related to her preparation and filing of false and fraudulent income tax returns that resulted in inflated refunds to taxpayers, and her use of stolen identities to collect fraudulent tax refunds.  BAYOU’s conduct resulted in a loss to the United States government of more than $500,000.  BAYUO pled guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent United States income tax returns, theft of government funds, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Court Judge John G. Koeltl.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Rebecca Bayuo used her Bronx tax preparation business to file fraudulent tax returns for her clients, costing the government over $500,000 in lost tax revenue.  Bayou went beyond simply falsely overstating expenses, business losses, and charitable gifts, also using stolen identifying information to claim false minor dependents.”

IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Shantelle P. Kitchen said: “Today, Ms. Bayuo is held accountable for the frauds she committed, including using stolen identities on tax returns she prepared for her clients and on her own tax returns.  IRS-Criminal Investigation remains committed to investigating individuals who allegedly prepare false tax returns to obtain fraudulent refunds.  We are especially vigilant when it comes to schemes involving stolen identities, as these frauds victimize not only law-abiding taxpayers, but specifically the individuals whose identities were stolen.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment filed against BAYUO, and statements made in related court filings and proceedings:

BAYUO owned and operated a tax preparation business located in the Bronx, New York.  From 2010 through 2012, BAYUO prepared and submitted to the IRS false and fraudulent tax returns for her clients that resulted in increased tax refunds by fabricating or overstating unreimbursed employment expenses, gifts to charity, and business losses.  BAYUO also charged clients additional fees to use stolen identifying information of minors, including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, to claim false minor dependents on their tax returns to increase the taxpayers’ refund amount.

In addition, from 2010 through 2014, BAYUO used stolen identifying information to file fraudulent income tax returns that generated tax refunds to which BAYUO was not entitled.  Finally, BAYUO used the stolen identifying information of one victim to illegally obtain a United States passport, which she used to travel internationally on multiple occasions from 2007 through 2014.

BAYUO, 45, of Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent United States income tax returns, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison; one count of theft of government funds, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of passport fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory, consecutive term of two years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

In pleading guilty, BAYUO agreed to forfeit to the United States a sum of money no less than $102,865.67 and to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $575,000.  

She is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Koeltl on December 2, 2016, at 11:00 a.m.

Ischia Bravo for Assembly - FORMER BRONX DEMOCRATIC COUNTY DIRECTOR, ISCHIA BRAVO, CONDEMNS RIVAL AS ALBANY’S “LEAST PRODUCTIVE LEGISLATOR”

   Candidate for the Bronx’s 78th Assembly District, Ischia Bravo, castigated her opponent Assemblyman José Rivera for being the least productive member of the New York State legislature. Her words follow a report released by Politico today on those legislators who have backed the least amount of legislation this year.

According to the Politico article, Rivera has reportedly not introduced any legislation in the 2016 session and only a single bill in the past four years. This is by far the lowest amount of legislation of any Assembly person.

“The people of the 78th District deserve better than an absentee representative,” Bravo said in a statement. “Assemblyman Rivera is not doing his job, and it's time we put someone in Albany who will actually do the work. There is too much that needs to be done to have someone asleep at the wheel.”

Bravo highlights there are many public servants who work for free; while Rivera is paid by taxpayer funds to essentially do nothing.

“True public servants don't have the luxury of doing nothing – we have to work for the people,” stated Bravo. “As your Assemblywoman, I will fight to bring affordable housing, better education, and good-paying jobs to our district. I will be a tireless advocate for our community, and my office will always be open to anyone who needs help. It’s time for a change - so let's move forward together towards a brighter future for our district.”

Bravo faces Rivera in the September primary, and is encouraging all residents to take an active role in improving their elected representation in Albany.  The Politico article elaborates that Rivera is the only elected official, of the 211-member State Legislature, not to sponsor a bill this year. 

“That is absolutely shameful,” says Bravo.

In February 2016 Bravo, the former Executive Director of the Bronx County Democratic Committee, launched her bid to represent the 78th Assembly District of the Bronx, covering the areas of Kingsbridge, Belmont, Fordham and Bedford Park.  She previously served the people of the Bronx as Executive Director of the Bronx Democratic Party for 7 years while under the leadership of the current Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Carl Heastie.

NYS Assembly Members Mark Gjonaj & Luis Sepulveda - Van Nest Family Day

    Proudly invite you to the 2016

 Van Nest Family Day! 

 

Saturday, August 6, 2016
 1:00pm to 4:00pm  

Van Nest Park (Van Nest Avenue & Unionport Road).

Come joins us at this spectacular event.
We hope to see you there!

Assemblymember Michael Blake - Afro Cultural Parade

   The African community is the fastest growing demographic in the Bronx. The National Ghana Parade Council, the National Council of Ghanaians Association, the African Friends of Us, and Aduana Kuo of North America will host the Afro Cultural Parade & Festival.  The event will take place on Saturday, August 13th in Crotona Park in The Bronx from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This year’s theme, “Youth Empowerment,” will focus on positioning African youth in diaspora for greatness and leadership. With the current social climate, the affiliated organizations with this year’s festival are creating opportunities for youth through mentorship, job opportunity, and development to engage the next generation of leaders.

Join as we showcase our traditional Durbar procession, host dynamic local and international African artists, and provide a platform for our vendors sell everything from fabric to native foods.

Through community programming, we are #BuildingABetterBronx.

   

Rep. Engel On Zika Cases in U.S.

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, released the following statement on recent developments surrounding the Zika virus:

“Reports of the first locally transmitted cases of Zika on the continental United States serve as a reminder that action to address this virus is long overdue. This distressing news comes on the heels of the first reported case of microcephaly in New York City.

“As public health experts have said for months, Zika is not a distant threat. Yet House Republicans left town for the summer without passing legislation which can be signed into law, and would protect Americans during this public health crisis. Instead, the GOP put forward a meager package that would have robbed funding from other public health programs, undercut the Clean Water Act, and made it more difficult for women to access contraception, thus impeding prevention efforts. When the GOP plan failed to move forward, Republicans rebuffed Democratic efforts to compromise.

“Federal agencies urgently need more resources to conduct research, control mosquito populations and educate Americans about this health emergency. Congress must provide those resources so we can finally mount the response needed to tackle the Zika virus head-on.”

Council Member Andrew Cohen - Upcoming Events

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All participants must MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE  BY CALLING OUR OFFICE AT 718.549.7300 OR EMAILINGDISTRICT11@COUNCIL.NYC.GOV.

: PARKCHESTER MAINTENANCE INCREASE SETTLEMENT

  Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda and Senator Ruben Diaz announced Tuesday, Aug. 2 a proposed settlement with the management of the sprawling Parkchester South Condominiums over its efforts to impose a 15.19 percent maintenance increase on unit owners there.

  Under the terms of the proposed settlement still being worked out, unit owners who meet documented requirements of financial hardship would have the maintenance increase spread out over four years.

  The announcement of the proposed settlement came at a Town Hall meeting held by the two legislators at at St. Paul's Church gymnasium at 1891 Degraw Avenue that drew a crowd of concerned unit owners.  

   Assemblyman Sepulveda, who is an attorney, and Senator Diaz, a unit owner who is lead plaintiff, filed a lawsuit in Bronx state Supreme Court on March 23against the Parkchester South Condominium's management over the maintenance hike management said it needs for structural repair work. The court has barred management from evicting any of the 8,286 unit owners for failure to pay the increase until the outcome of the court case.

   "During the last several months through litigation, we have met with the attorneys for the Parkchester board and the Parkchester management to discuss a resolution of the massive increase in maintenance to the owners of the units," said Sepulveda.

   "We've gone back and forth in several court appearances. We have exchanged legal information, and we have requested that they provide us with financial information throughout this process. As a result of this, the attorneys and management have come back with a settlement proposal for the unit owners," he continued. 

   The settlement proposal is premised on the income of individuals, and on what percentage of their income goes to paying their mortgage, their maintenance and other expenses, Sepulveda said.

  "The main point of the proposal is that rather than a one-time 15.19 percent charge, we're going to break it down into percentages for four years," Sepulveda said. "I believe this will help alleviate some of the concerns of people who are living on fixed incomes and those who truly cannot afford to pay such a large increase in maintenance."

   

   Sepulveda warned that "We are going to continue to litigate unless we can reach a final resolution that's helpful to those individuals who are truly in need financially."

   Parkchester management has said it needs the one-time increase to cover the cost of repairs for serious structural problems. Once work is finished in 2017, it has indicated maintenance fees would return to 2015 levels.

   Assemblymember Sepulveda noted that Parkchester management has also agreed to provide certain financial documents to help determine various issues, including the bidding process and selection of contractors to determine if management used the most cost effective measures.

   "We have an accountant who has been reviewing the information to see if there are any problematic issues financially," said Sepulveda. "We haven't uncovered anything yet -- and we hope that we don't. But we intend to remain vigilant throughout this process."

   Senator Diaz stated that "While I am grateful for every effort to try to resolve this matter so that the families, the senior citizens, the disabled, and all of our neighbors in Parkchester South may receive some financial relief and have a more reasonable way to pay their bills, I remain concerned that last year's budget and the projected budget for 2016 have not yet been shared with the condo owners and residents.

  "Transparency remains a key factor," Diaz continued. "We all need to be able to review those documents to see where and how the money was spent, and will be spent."

  The  huge city-within-a-city, built by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. toward the end of the Great Depression, is now home to large numbers of South Asians, comprised of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indians. Some 20 percent or so residents are African-American and Latino.

6th ANNUAL SUMMER STREETS EVENT FEATURES FREESTYLE TRIO TKA!

  Sunday August 7^th  2016 The Bainbridge Ave & E. 204^th Street Merchants, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj & Councilmember Andrew Cohen in conjunction with MAS Productions will proudly present the popular Summer Streets outdoor festival on E 204^th Street Between Bainbridge & Decatur Avenues from 12pm-6pm.

This event is rain or shine and is set to take place this Sunday, August 7^th. NYC Hire will also have an informational table available to sign up anyone seeking employment. Highlights include but are not limited to: shopping, music, Hayrides, GIVEAWAYS and most importantly: HEADLINERS TKA—the legendary trio of Freestyle.. Plenty of activities will be available throughout the day including a “Fun bus” provided by the Bronx Children’s Museum, and more.

Last year this location was chosen to showcase The Street Workout World Cup New York—which is the biggest calisthenics event in the country. Spectators watched as the best of 2015 battled to proceed as the victorious winner that gets the chance to attend the Finals in Moscow. The annual Summer Streets event is a local favorite for children and adults alike, as there are activities for ALL ages.