BAYSIDE — The operator of a former Bayside Papa John’s pizza franchise has agreed to pay the state nearly half a million dollars in penalties for failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax, the state Department of Taxation said.
Syed Mehboob, 45, was arrested in August 2013 and charged with failing to pay $226,017 in sales tax from 2005-10, the Tax Department said.
He pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor as did the six franchises he operated, according to the Tax Department. His other pizzerias were in Astoria, Corona, Woodside and Sunnyside.
With interest, penalty and fines, they were ordered pay a full restitution to the state of $497,021, the Tax Department said.
Mehboob received a conditional discharge at his sentencing.
