Twinkle Toes and Fast Fingers: Rye Merchants Nailed on Tax Evasion
No one ever looks very good in their perp photos.
But maybe Rye merchants (and Larchmont residents) Denise and Chris MacDonald (photo, above) can pick-up a beautiful picture frame at their store Wish at 3 Purdy Avenue. They can perp in style.
The dynamic merchant duo – with two fronts, er… storefronts in Rye – Wish at 3 Purdy Avenue and Twinkle Toes Baby at 88 Purchase Street – were arraigned by the Westchester District Attorney last week on grand larceny and tax evasion charges.
The announcement from the office of Westchester DA Janet DiFiore said the love birds absconded with half a million and face five to 15 years in the state pen. Oops.. Better get some decorating tips from Martha:
"Over a period of eleven years, from 1998 through to 2009 the defendants who owned and operated the three businesses, collected New York State sales tax and failed to remit the money to New York State.
In addition the defendants, since at least 2004, failed to pay personal income tax to New York State.
The combined larcenies from their failure to pay New York State Tax from the three businesses and their personal income tax are in excess of $500,000.
Bail was set at $10,000 cash for Denise MacDonald and $5,000 cash for Christopher MacDonald.
Their next court appearance is scheduled for September 28th, 2010.
They face a maximum of five to fifteen years in state prison on the top charge."
I appreciate humor as much as the next person, but am disappointed at the handling of this particular news item.
If owners did that of which they’re being accused, then let them be tried in court as opposed to on this blog or in the Journal News (covered the story two days ago). However, as local merchants, they have created jobs and supported our town. I would hope that a.) the presumption of innocence applies; b.) that their businesses can continue.