Mail fraud and tax evasion charges filed against former New York attorney

A six-count indictment was unsealed on July 8 against a former New York attorney in federal court in New York. Joseph Scali was charged with structuring cash transactions, mail fraud, tax evasion, obstructing the IRS, perjury and obstruction of justice.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara announced the charges and stated that the Criminal Investigation unit of the Internal Revenue Service and the Postal Inspection Service had contributed to the investigation. Prosecutors allege that Scali misappropriated funds and evaded his tax obligations.

According to prosecutors, Scali allegedly sought to defraud a prospective purchaser of real estate by misappropriating funds that had been held in escrow. He is also accused of failing to file personal and corporate tax returns and misleading the IRS as to the years for which he had not filed tax returns and his reasons for failing to do so.

The indictment also claims that Scali committed perjury and obstruction of justice when he allegedly provided false information in federal court.

Scali was arrested and arraigned on July 8. The six individual charges he faces each carry maximum sentences of between 3 and 20 years in prison. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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