OWNER OF YANKEE TAVERN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGES OF
EVADING THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXES OWED TO
THE CITY AND STATE
Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that the owner of Joe Bastone's Yankee Tavern, a popular bar and grill near Yankee Stadium, pled guilty to charges of evading $750,000 in taxes, including corporate, sales, payroll and personal income taxes owed to the City of New York and the State of New York.
Joseph Bastone, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Yankee Tavern, along with the corporate entity itself, entered guilty pleas before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett. This disposition is the result of a two year joint investigation with the New York City Department of Finance.
Bastone, 55, of Bronxville, New York, pled guilty to one count of the New York City Administrative Code 11-4004 (a) False returns or Reports; Corporate Taxes, ( a Class A Misdemeanor).
Yankee Tavern pled guilty to one count of violating New York City Administrative Code 11-4004 (b) False Returns or Reports; Corporate Taxes, (a Class E Felony).
Under terms of the plea agreement Bastone and Yankee Tavern will receive a conditional discharge and be required to pay restitution in the amount of $750,000. Justice Barrett adjourned the case until July 14, 2009 at which time the defendants are to pay a $400,000 installment on the restitution. Yankee Tavern will then have until July 15, 2011 to pay the remaining $350,000 owed.
District Attorney Johnson thanked the following for the hard work that resulted in this successful prosecution: Michael Hyman, Interim Commissioner for Tax, Audit, Policy and Enforcement and members of Hyman's staff at the New York City Department of Finance Office of Tax Enforcement, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Kapp, Chief of the Arson/Auto/Economic Crimes Bureau, Assistant District Attorney Ann Marie Cherry, of the Arson/Auto/Economic Crimes Bureau, Bronx D.A. Detective Investigator Juan Crosas Medina, and Detective Investigator Henry Nurse, Director of Security.
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