Hudson Valley Cleaning Company Evaded Nearly $200,000 in Taxes

A cleaning company owned by a Hudson Valley man evaded nearly $200,000 in taxes.

On Tuesday in Orange County Court, Courtesy Maintenance, Inc., a Bronx-based commercial cleaning company whose owner lives in Cornwall, pleaded guilty to criminal tax fraud, a felony.

The company underreported its income by $1,086,654.00, evading $188,579.14 in taxes.

On Wednesday, the company’s owner, 59-year-old Alvaro Merino of Cornwall pleaded guilty to criminal tax fraud and was sentenced to a conditional discharge.

Download the Hudson Valley Post App

As part of the plea agreement, the corporation and Merino will pay all the outstanding taxes on or before March 8.

"The evasion of taxes by filing fraudulent documents is something that cannot be tolerated,” said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. “Certainly no one wants to pay taxes, and it is lawful to arrange your transactions and to seek guidance from tax professionals to lessen what you are required to pay. Hiding income and filing false documents, however, constitutes tax evasion, which is not only unlawful but is not fair to those who pay taxes. Tax evasion diminishes the money available to fund police, firefighters, and other essential government services.”