Westchester construction contractor pleads guilty to filing false tax returns

Date: Feb. 27, 2026

Contact: [email protected]

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation ("IRS-CI"), Harry T. Chavis, Jr., announced that Philip Castracucco pled guilty today to filing false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns before U.S. District Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke in White Plains federal court.

"As he admitted today in court, Philip Castracucco filed false tax returns that underreported income from his business," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Castracucco attempted to avoid paying his full obligation back to the government, one we all collectively share for essential services and infrastructure. He has now pled guilty to a federal crime and faces time in prison. Cheating on your taxes is stealing from your fellow New Yorkers."

"Philip Castracucco concealed income from the IRS and evaded the payment of taxes, contributing to our nation's tax gap in the process. With today's guilty plea, he is being held accountable. This outcome demonstrates the strength of our investigative efforts and our commitment to safeguarding the public from financial misconduct. He now faces the consequences of choosing fraud over compliance," said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr.

According to the Information, public court proceedings and filings, as well as Castracucco's admissions during his plea allocation:

Castracucco was the owner of a contracting business ("Company-1") that performed construction work, primarily for masonry projects in the vicinity of Westchester County, New York. From 2017 through 2022, Castracucco caused Company-1 business receipt checks in a total amount of more than $3.5 million to be cashed through a check cashing business and converted to cash, rather than deposited into Company-1's business bank account. Castracucco used this cash to pay salaries and wages to himself and his employees; for other items purchased for his own benefit; and for materials used by Company-1.

From 2018 through 2023, Castracucco filed with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") U.S. Income Tax Returns for an S Corporation, IRS Forms 1120-S, for Company-1 that omitted its gross receipts from the aforementioned checks and more than $1 million of salaries and wages paid by Company-1 to Castracucco and others. Castracucco also caused to be filed with IRS Forms 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Returns, for Company-1 that omitted these salaries and wages.

From 2020 through 2023, Castracucco filed and caused to be filed with the IRS personal U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, IRS Forms 1040, that omitted more than $900,000 of business income CASTRACUCCO received from Company-1.

Castracucco of Tuckahoe, New York, pled guilty to one count of making and subscribing to false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Castracucco has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS, representing the additional tax due and owing as a result of his conduct, in an amount no less than $359,646.57. Sentencing before Judge Clarke is scheduled for September 9, 2026.

The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed on the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI in this case.

The case is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Coffman is in charge of the prosecution.

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 18 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.