LI floral design business owners plead guilty in IRS case

The two owners of a Long Island floral design business pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday to attempting to obstruct the IRS, the Justice Department said in a news release.

Adrian Benitez and Jose Ramirez, both of Queens, diverted more than $1 million in sales from Metro Floral Decorators of Great Neck to their personal bank accounts to hide the revenue from tax collectors, the government said.

By having customers pay in cash, in checks payable to cash, or in checks made out to the two owners personally, Benitez, 39, caused a tax loss of $227,729, and Ramirez. 44, caused a tax loss of $235,805, according to the release.

The two face up to three years in prison. They declined to comment. A sentencing date has not been set.