Former restaurant owner admits stealing tax revenue
CUBA—The former owner of a defunct Allegany County restaurant plead guilty Monday to stealing more than $46,000 in sales tax revenue he collected from customers over a three year period, the state Department of Taxation and Finance reported.
Ruben Santiago, 36, who operated the Cuba Main Street Bistro in Cuba from 2005 to 2008, admitted he stole taxes by repeatedly failing to file sales tax returns between March 1, 2005, and Feb. 29, 2008.
Santiago pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny and was sentenced by Allegany County Court Judge Thomas P. Brown to make restitution to the state for the full amount as well as serve five years’ probation.
Authorities said that an examination of Santiago’s business records by auditors revealed that Santiago under-reported the restaurant’s gross sales by more than $543,000.
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