Tax theft charge for pet company operator

A Port Jefferson Station man who operated pet waste removal companies faces felony sales tax charges involving the theft of $240,000 in sales tax, officials said.

Michael Micheline, 43, was arrested Sept. 16 and released on his own recognizance. He faces his next Suffolk District Court appearance in November.

He was charged with second-degree grand larceny, officials said, after he collected taxes from his customers but did not send them to the state.

Micheline did not immediately respond Thursday to a voice-mail message requesting comment on the charge.

Public records list him as the owner of several companies, all based at his home address of 56 Clymer St., Port Jefferson Station, including Poop B Gone Inc., Purrrfect Pickup Inc. and Bone Appetite Inc. The records also show a history of tax liens against him going back nearly a decade in Suffolk County and in Howard Beach, Queens.

The state Department of Taxation and Finance and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Bureau worked together on the investigation.

Micheline owns two pet waste removal companies offering services to homeowners in Nassau and Suffolk counties, the state said. He failed to remit more than $240,000 in sales tax collected from his customers between Dec. 1, 2002 and May 31, 2008, the state said.

If convicted, Micheline faces up to 15 years in prison.

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