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Feb. 7, 2013 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Lionel Thomas (DOB 03/15/77) of 421 North Broadway, Yonkers New York was arraigned today on a Felony Complaint charging him with:

• one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class "E" Felony.

Between Oct. 31, 2012 and Nov. 29, 2012, the defendant, a former employee of the City of Yonkers Taxation and Finance Department, located at 40 South Broadway in Yonkers, engaged in a scheme defrauding a number of tax payers of the City of Yonkers.

On six separate occasions, the defendant demanded and received cash "fees" for processing legitimate tax payments from Yonkers' residents. The defendant did not have the authority to charge the "fees" and withheld the "fees" from the City of Yonkers.

Specifically, on Oct. 31, 2012, the defendant fraudulently induced one taxpayer to pay him a $380.00 surcharge in "late fees" on the victim's taxes, when in fact no such late fees were properly chargeable.

In similar fashion, the defendant fraudulently induced another taxpayer on Nov. 15, 2012 to pay him a $250.00 surcharge in cash for late fees on taxes.

On Nov. 27, 2012 the defendant fraudulently induced a third taxpayer to pay him a $360.00 surcharge in cash for late fees on taxes.

On Nov. 28, 2012 the defendant fraudulently induced a fourth taxpayer to pay him a $320.00 surcharge in cash for late fees on taxes.

On Nov. 28, 2012 the defendant fraudulently induced a fifth taxpayer to pay him a $220.00 surcharge in cash for late fees on taxes.

And on Nov. 29, 2012 the defendant fraudulently induced a sixth taxpayer to pay him a $360.00 surcharge in cash for late fees on taxes.
After the victim would pay the "fee" in cash, the defendant would issue an official looking "receipt" for the money.

The scheme unraveled when one of the victims thought the cash "fee' to be suspicious and called the Department of Taxation and Finance asking about the policy.

The investigation by the Yonkers police department is continuing and further victims of this fraud are anticipated.

"At a time when the City of Yonkers is cutting services to balance its budget, collecting legitimate tax revenue matters now more than ever. Although no one enjoys paying taxes, citizens of Yonkers should feel confident that their hard earned money is going to finance their quality of life and services and not into the pocket of a City employee who established his own taxing authority," said District Attorney Janet DiFiore after the defendant was arraigned.

The defendant was released on his own recognizance.

The defendant's next court date is March 28, 2013.

He faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Conway, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, is prosecuting the case.

 

Lionel Thomas

Lionel Thomas

 

In compliance with Disciplinary Rule 7-107A of the Code of Professional Responsibility, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.