The mayor of a Long Island village and her doctor husband could be put behind bars after the two allegedly failed to file taxes for five years, police say.
Julianne Beckerman, 48, and gastroenterologist Adam Beckerman, 55, faced a judge Thursday, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced. Beckerman is the current mayor of Muttontown, a village in Oyster Bay.
The couple allegedly owes $243,865 in personal income taxes, prosecutors said.
"While nobody likes taxes, we are obligated to file them and pay our fair share, so it's especially disturbing that a doctor and an elected official allegedly failed to file their taxes for five years," said Singas. "My officer works very closely with the State Department of Taxation and Finance to build criminal cases and our message is clear: file your taxes or face prosecution."
A joint investigation by the DA's office and the state department of taxation revealed that the Beckermans failed to file personal tax returns from 2010 to 2014, despite earning more than $4.5 million, according to prosecutors.
The couple was charged with criminal tax fraud and repeated failure to file personal income and earnings taxes, prosecutors said. If convicted, they face a maximum of five to 15 years in prison.
Both surrendered their passports and were released on their own recognizance. They're due back in court May 30.
