New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone and Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon today announced the arrest of a tax preparer charged with filing fraudulent returns for fellow New York City Department of Sanitation employees while working as a supervisor for the agency.

Peter Cisyk, 48, of 148 Hopkins Avenue, Staten Island, was charged with five felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing, five felony counts of grand larceny, as well as five felony counts of criminal tax fraud. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“Tax preparers are obligated to act ethically and honestly on behalf of their clients,” Commissioner Boone said. “When they violate that trust by preparing fraudulent returns, we work closely with local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute them.”

“For five years, this dishonest tax preparer submitted fraudulent returns reporting a total tax loss expected to exceed $100,000,”said District Attorney McMahon, whose office will prosecute the case. “According to some of the defendant’s clients, Cisyk filed tax returns on their behalf that contained exaggerated deductions and inflated business expenses that unlawfully reduced their tax liability. My office will continue to work with partner agencies such as the New York State Tax Department to hold accountable those who cheat the public.”

Cisyk was a New York City employee from 1995 to 2015, and also worked as a paid tax preparer from 2009 to 2015. He prepared returns from a location at 291 Maybury Avenue on Staten Island and also allegedly prepared returns for several of his coworkers at his Department of Sanitation work location.

A Tax Department investigation alleges that, from 2010 to 2015, Cisyk violated criminal tax fraud statutes by filing returns with exaggerated deductions, unsubstantiated gifts to charities, and undocumented business expenses.

The Richmond County District Attorney has set up a hotline and encouraged clients of Cisyk to contact the office if they have questions about their returns. The telephone number is 718-556-4066.

If convicted, Cisyk could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison on the grand larceny and criminal tax fraud charges and up to four years on the other charges. He also faces fines of up to $5,000 per return.

The NYS Tax Department's nationally recognized fraud prevention program automatically reviews every income tax return before a refund is issued. The department discovered irregularities in multiple returns filed by Cisyk. The Tax Department's Criminal Investigations Division then interviewed his clients, some of whom allegedly acknowledged that certain deductions made on their returns were inaccurate. Other clients allegedly confirmed that Cisyk prepared their return at his Department of Sanitation worksite while an employee of that agency.

File a complaint

If you're aware of a Staten Island tax preparer who has engaged in illegal or improper conduct, contact the Richmond County District Attorney’s hotline at 718-556-4066.

Outside of Staten Island, contact the NYS Tax Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility at 518-530-HELP (option #2) or file a tax preparer complaint online. The Tax Department will review your complaint promptly and, where appropriate, take corrective action, which may include sanctions.