LONDON: A married couple who ran a mini-cab company in North London have been sentenced for stealing £138,000 in Tax Credits, Income Tax and National Insurance and been ordered to pay back the money within six months.
Cab driver Stanley Orenstein and his wife Danielle, who managed the business, were arrested as part of a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation. Officers discovered the couple were selling illicit cigarettes and tobacco from their cab office in Stamford Hill. Investigations also revealed that Stanley Orenstein hadn’t declared his earnings as a self-employed mini-cab driver and Danielle had deliberately lied about their earnings to get extra Tax Credits.
Their criminal profits were used to part-finance two houses in North London, one which they rented out, and to fund investments and property in Israel.
John Cooper, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:
“To the man in the street the Orensteins appeared to be running a legitimate business, but it was really a front for wider criminality.
“HMRC won’t stop in our efforts to track down cheats who rip off honest, law abiding people who pay what is due, when it is due. This money is vital to keep our country running and provide the public services we all need and use.”
In 2008 and 2009 HMRC officers made eight seizures of tobacco products at the Orenstein’s office and from their home in South Tottenham. As investigations continued, dozens of people were seen entering and leaving the mini-cab premises with packets of smuggled cigarettes and pouches of tobacco – with the couple profiting to the sum of at least £79,000.
In 2010 they were arrested. During searches of their home and the mini-cab office a quantity of illicit cigarettes and tobacco, and cash totalling £71,000 were seized. Investigators also discovered that Stanley Orenstein had failed to declare his earnings to avoid paying £15,000 in Income Tax and National Insurance. His wife had fraudulently claimed £44,000 in Tax Credits by failing to declare the couple’s full earnings.
They appeared at Isleworth Crown Court today, 4 June 2015, where Stanley Orenstein and Danielle Orenstein were sentenced and a Confiscation Order for £138,000, to be paid within six months, was granted.
