Gerard Terry's tax fraud case put off

Gerard Terry leaves Nassau Police headquarters to be arraigned on an income tax-related charge on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 in Mineola. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Former North Hempstead Town Democratic party leader Gerard Terry’s felony tax fraud case was adjourned yesterday to June 9 in Nassau County District Court.
Terry was arrested on April 12 and charged with one count of criminal tax fraud for not filing an income tax return in 2010. Terry has pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance, but prosecutors confiscated his passport and chided him for visiting the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean after he released a letter revealing his tax debts.
The letter was released by public relations executive Gary Lewi amid questions from Newsday about Terry’s taxes. Newsday reported on Jan. 31 that Terry complied nearly $1.4 million in federal and state tax debts while making hundreds of thousands of dollars in public jobs. Terry was also outside counsel and the zoning board of appeals attorney for North Hempstead Town. The town severed its relationship with Terry, who resigned as party leader, and lost or stepped down from three other government jobs.
Terry’s arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead led to a sheriff’s department investigation into the way he was escorted out of the hearing and away from the public.
A county source said that one of the employees under investigation is Corrections Sgt. James McCann, whose wife Helen McCann was charged by Nassau prosecutors in February with embezzling more than $98,000 from North Hempstead’s Solid Waste Management Authority.
Capt. Michael Golio, a spokesman for the sheriff’s department, said the investigating was “ongoing” and he could not comment further.

Put a little love in your heart with the NewsdayTV Valentine's Day Special! From Love Lane in Mattituck, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to celebrate Valentine's Day this year.

Put a little love in your heart with the NewsdayTV Valentine's Day Special! From Love Lane in Mattituck, NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to celebrate Valentine's Day this year.