Nassau DA: Car Dealer From Massapequa Accused of Pocketing $200K in Sales Tax

A Massapequa man who owns an Elmont car dealership has been accused of failing to pay sales tax from the business between 2006 and 2010, Nassau County prosecutors said.

Philip Shaw, 47, allegedly stole more than $200,000 in tax revenue. He turned himself in Monday morning, prosecutors said.

Shaw, the owner of High Gear, Inc., never filed any withholding tax, corporation tax, federal income tax, or sales tax returns since 2006, according to prosecutors, but a 2010 audit shows that Shaw reported more than $2 million in sales from 2006 to 2010. He  allegedly never reported the sales to the state Tax Department.

A review of his bank records shows that payments made to him by check were usually personal checks Which didn't indicate of the type of car, cost, amount of taxes, or any other identifying information, prosecutors said.

High Gear has also not had a valid Certificate of Authority to conduct business in Nassau County since 2006, prosecutors said.

"For Mr. Shaw to pocket this money while other businesses pay their fair share is outrageous,” DA Kathleen Rice said in a statement.

 Shaw was charged with grand larceny and two misdemeanor violations of the State Tax law.