A Bellport tax preparer allegedly treated a Patchogue auto shop like his own personal ATM, blowing stolen tax cash on plane tickets, credit card bills and even OnlyFans subscriptions, prosecutors said Thursday.
Fabian Delgado, 34, was busted after authorities accused him of pocketing more than $260,000 that was supposed to go toward the business’ New York State tax payments between 2021 and 2025.
According to Suffolk County prosecutors, Delgado handled quarterly tax filings for the auto body shop and told the owner how much was owed to the state. But instead of paying the full bill, Delgado allegedly filed bogus sales tax returns that drastically underreported the shop’s revenue.
Investigators said Delgado then paid the lower tax amount to New York State while secretly siphoning off the difference for himself.
Over 16 transactions, Delgado allegedly stole $260,687.22 while the unsuspecting business owner believed every penny was going to Albany.
Authorities claim Delgado spent the cash on mortgage payments, meals, airline tickets, personal tax bills and subscriptions to the adult-content site OnlyFans.
“The allegations against this defendant represent a calculated act of corruption that abused a position of trust,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement.
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller blasted tax preparers who “defraud their clients and the state for personal gain.”
Delgado was arraigned Wednesday on grand larceny, falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing charges.
Despite the serious accusations, Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei released Delgado without bail under current state law.
If convicted of the top charge, Delgado faces up to 15 years behind bars.
Prosecutors urged anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Delgado to contact the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office as investigators continue reviewing the alleged scheme.