LI biz owner arrested on tax evasion charges

Richard Kogel of St. James was arrested on tax evasion charges two weeks ago, according to a news release from the New York Tax Department Friday.

The release said an investigation led by the Tax Department and Suffolk County district attorney's office found that Kogel failed to pay the state more than $1.4 million in sales tax collected from sales at his Medford furniture store, Rooms Unlimited, between 2007 and 2011.

Kogel was charged with grand larceny in the first degree -- a class B felony -- to which he has pled not guilty, according to the Suffolk County district attorney's office. Kogel was released without bail, and his court date in Suffolk County has been scheduled for Oct. 16.

If convicted, Kogel faces a minimum of one to three years in prison.

A manager who answered the phone at Rooms Unlimited said Kogel would not be commenting on his charges. The business is still in operation.