DA: Farmingdale Man Falsely Represented Himself as A CPA

A Farmingdale man who falsely represented himself as a certified public accountant caused his clients to be not only audited but penalized after he failed to file on their behalf, authorities said.

Edward Gottlieb, 74, was arrested and arraigned on Wednesday. He was charged with two counts of unlicensed practice, two counts of unauthorized use of a professional title, and second-degree scheme to defraud, according to Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas.

DA investigators say Gottlieb has never been licensed as a public accountant or certified public accountant in New York.

According to Singas, in 2008, a Levittown resident was audited for tax years 2005 and 2006, and hired Gottlieb to handle his audit. Between 2008 and 2014, Gottlieb told his client that he was handling the federal and subsequent state audits. However, Gottlieb had not communicated or complied with the IRS or the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, the DA’s office said.

As a result, the Levittown resident accrued several hundred thousand dollars in interest and penalties, the DA’s office said.

And in June 2013, a Massapequa resident hired Gottlieb to amend her business’ state sales tax return and to prepare and file all further business taxes. Gottlieb accepted payment for his services and told the client that he had filed an amendment and that the state was causing a delay. However, Gottlieb never filed an amendment or any subsequent sales tax returns, according to the DA’s office.

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Subsequently, the Massapequa client had to immediately enter a repayment plan with the Department of Taxation and Finance to prevent her business assets from being seized. The taxpayer now owes a sales tax liability, penalties and interest totaling more $20,000, the DA’s office said.

Wednesday’s arrest comes on the heels of what the DA’s office describes as a “prosecution of Nassau tax cheats,” including the recent arrest of a Baldwin tax preparer on larceny and fraud charges, and guilty pleas from a Hempstead tax service employee and her boyfriend for taking tax refund money belonging to clients.

On Wednesday, Gottlieb was released on probation. If convicted of the top charge, he faces a maximum sentence of 1-1/3 to four years in prison. He is due back in court on Feb. 17.

Gottlieb is represented by Darryn Solotoff.

Image: Edward Gottlieb/Nassau County District Attorney’s Office

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