A Bellport tax preparer was arrested Thursday after prosecutors said he stole more than $260,000 from a Patchogue auto repair business by falsifying sales tax returns and pocketing money meant to pay the company’s New York State tax obligations.
Fabian Delgado, 34, was arraigned May 14 on grand larceny, falsifying business records and related charges, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney’s office.
Prosecutors said Delgado worked as a tax preparer for an auto body shop in Patchogue between 2021 and 2025. Each quarter, he allegedly calculated what the business owed in state taxes and told the owner the amount due.
But authorities said Delgado did not pay the full amount.
Instead, prosecutors allege he prepared false tax returns that underreported the business’ gross sales to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. That lowered the amount paid to the state, while Delgado allegedly stole the difference.
Over 16 transactions, Delgado allegedly stole $260,687.22 from the business owner, who believed the money was being paid to New York State, prosecutors said.
Authorities said Delgado used the stolen money for mortgage payments, credit card payments, airfare, food purchases, OnlyFans subscriptions and his own personal income tax obligations.
Delgado was charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny, nine counts of first-degree falsifying business records and nine counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.
“The allegations against this defendant represent a calculated act of corruption that abused a position of trust,” Tierney said.
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said tax preparers are expected to operate with honesty and integrity, and those who defraud clients and the state must be held accountable.
Delgado was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei and released without bail because the charges are not bail eligible under current New York law, prosecutors said.
He is due back in court June 16. If convicted of the top count, he faces five to 15 years in prison.
Prosecutors said anyone who believes they were victimized by Delgado should call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 631-853-4626.
Delgado is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
