NYC School Administrator Pleads Guilty To Tax Fraud

Failed to File NYS Personal Income Tax Return; Filed False Financial Disclosure Statements

ALBANY, NY (06/23/2010)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward announced today that Richard Brescia, former Director of Performance Management and Talent Development at the New York City Department of Education, and recruitment manager for the New York City Teaching Fellows Program, pled guilty recently to criminal tax fraud, a class A misdemeanor, for failing to file his 2008 New York State personal income tax return.

Brescia also pled guilty to filing false financial disclosure statements with the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), a class A misdemeanor.

Brescia, 54, of 335 Riverside Drive in Manhattan, appeared June 10 before Supreme Court Judge Bonnie Wittner and was sentenced to 15 days in prison, a one year conditional discharge and ordered to pay a $500 criminal fine.

Prior to the plea, Brescia lied about filing his state tax returns on his financial disclosure statements. The alleged misconduct was uncovered by a joint investigation conducted by the Tax Department and the New York City DOI of employees who have tax liabilities, but do not file the required returns.

Following the investigation, Brescia was arrested, released and instructed to return to court for arraignment. Brescia was returned on a bench warrant on May 26 by detectives from the New York County District Attorney's Office. He remained incarcerated for 15 days until his guilty plea on June 10.

Brescia was previously suspended from his City job without pay.

"Public service is a public trust, and government workers who are paid with public money must pay their taxes like everyone else," said Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward. "I would like to thank Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., Gilda Mariani, Chief of the Money Laundering & Tax Crimes Unit, DOI Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn and their staffs for their work on this case."

"When individuals fail to file their tax returns, let alone pay their fair share, they put an extra burden on the honest taxpayers who are contributing to the well-being of the City and State," said District Attorney Vance.

Acting Commissioner Woodward added, "The State offers programs such as the Voluntary Disclosure and Compliance Program to encourage delinquent taxpayers to become compliant without facing criminal prosecution or civil penalty. It is hoped that this case will encourage such taxpayers to come forward and satisfy their tax obligation. For more information about these programs, go to the Department's website at www.nystax.gov."

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