Used car dealer admits failing to turn over sales taxes

TRENTON (AP) — State authorities say a used car dealer has admitted that he purposely failed to turn over more than $156,000 in state sales taxes.

Gennaro Dicecilia now faces a three-year state prison term when he's sentenced Oct. 16. The 58-year-old Toms River resident will also have to pay $220,797 in restitution.

Dicecilia owns Automotion LLC, a dealership on Route 9 in Toms River. He pleaded guilty Tuesday, admitting that he failed to turn over $156,564 in sales taxes he collected from customers.

His actions came to light following a routine canvas of used car dealerships in Ocean County by the state's Division of Taxation in November 2011.

The agency was seeking to identify dealerships that were not properly registered or licensed. During the canvas, it was determined that Dicecilia had failed to file any sales tax returns or remit any sales tax since his dealership opened in 2007.

Tax officials sought payment of the outstanding sales taxes, and Dicecilia subsequently filed sales tax returns.

But an audit by the tax division revealed that he deliberately hid information about the number of cars sold and the sales tax that he collected.

Further investigation, based on vehicle title transfer records kept by the state's Motor Vehicle Commission, determined Dicecilia had collected $205,157 in sales tax but remitted only $48,593 during the civil audit.

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