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"For Immediate Release"

Major Players in NY Commercial Real Estate
Caught Up in Fraud and Racketeering Lawsuit

Andrew Larew and Wife, Christine Wojcik, Named in $100 million RICO and Racketeering Fraud Lawsuit.

Alleged Co-conspirators Tony Fiorito, John Funiciello, John Shannon, Alan Doyle, Chuck Sangster, Paula Deckman, Soundview Real Estate Partners, and Larew, Doyle & Associates also Named.

Andrew Larew is a Principal at Commercial Real Estate Finance Firm Larew, Doyle & Associates in New York City. Andrew Larew was previously a Principal at Larew Associates LLC, as well as Goedecke Larew, both Commercial Real Estate Finance firms. Andrew Larew is also a member of of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City.

Click here for additional information about Andrew Larew

Christine Wojcik, also known as Chrissy Wojcik, is Vice-President, Asset Management, at Commercial Real Estate Finance Firm Situs Companies in New York City. Wojcik is also Owner of Larew, Doyle & Associates. Chrissy Wojcik is also a member of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City.

Click here for additional information about Chrissy Wojcik

Anthony Fiorito, also known as Tony Fiorito, is President - Owner of Commercial Real Estate Management Firm Partnership Properties in Syracuse, NY. Fiorito is also Owner of Larew, Doyle & Associates. Tony Fiorito is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Downtown Syracuse Committee, a quasi-governmental organization that invests in downtown Syracuse, NY projects.

Click here for additional information about Tony Fiorito

John Funiciello is the founder of Commercial Real Estate Leasing Firm JF Real Estate in Syracuse, NY. Funiciello is also Owner of Larew, Doyle & Associates, and a member of the Board of Directors for Pathfinder Bank, Oswego, NY.

Click here for additional information about John Funiciello

John Shannon is Owner and Partner of the Accounting firm Shannon & Shay in Oneida, NY.

Click here for additional information about John Shannon

Alan Doyle is a Principal at Commercial Real Estate Finance Firm Larew, Doyle & Associates in Providence, RI.  Alan Doyle is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island.

Click here for additional information about Alan Doyle

Charles Sangster, also known as Chuck Sangster, is a Partner and Owner of CBD Companies, a Diversified Commercial Real Estate Construction, Management and Development Concern in Syracuse, NY.

Click here for additional information about Chuck Sangster

Paula Deckman is a Partner in the Tax Department of Accounting Firm Testone, Marshall & Discenza in Syracuse, NY.

Click here for additional information about Paula Deckman

Caderet Grant is a broker/dealer based in Syracuse, NY. Caderet, through one of its affiliates, is an investor in real estate projects with Andrew Larew, Chuck Sangster, Tony Fiorito and John Funiciello.

Click here for additional information about Caderet Grant

Soundview Real Estate Partners is a Real Estate Investment Firm Headed by Nicholas Newman and Benjamin Marcus, also known as Nick Newman and Ben Marcus, in Stamford, CT

Click here for additional information about Nicholas Newman and Benjamin Marcus

Larew, Doyle & Associates is a Commercial Real Estate Finance Firm in New York City.

Sunil Aggarwal is Founder and Managing Director of Think Forward Financial Group, LLC, and Managing Director of Think Forward Capital Markets, LLC.

Click here for additional information about Sunil Aggarwal

John Larew is Principal Defendant Andrew Larew's Father, and an investor in at least one of Defendant Larew's many LLCs.

Click here for additional information about John Larew

Peter Goedecke, also known as Pete Goedecke, is Managing Member of Goedecke & Co., LLC.

Click here for additional information about Peter Goedecke

David Rothberg, also known as Dave Rothberg, is a close business associate of Principal Defendant Andrew Larew

Christopher Kinder, also known as Chris Kinder, is a Principal and Senior Managing Director of Larew Doyle & Associates.

Click here for additional information about Christopher Kinder

Joseph Hentze is President, Owner, and Senior Broker at Hentze-dor Real Estate, Inc., as well as HD Management, LLC. Hentze-dor owns, manages, sells, and leases commercial real estate in the New York City area.

Click here for additional information about Joseph Hentze

Additional Information About Paula Deckman

Paula Deckman, CPA, a Partner at Testone, Marshall & Discenza Accountants in Syracuse NY is currently named in a $100 million Racketeering and RICO Fraud lawsuit in association with her client, Andrew Larew. A synopsis of the case can be viewed in the blue box at the top of this page .

Following is a brief sample of Deckman's activities. However, I understand there is much more evidence to be presented at trial that is not yet public record. I also understand that the list of Defendants in this case is expanding by a factor of 2X.

1. On April 20, 2005, Deckman prepared a letter for Andrew Larew to present to the Connecticut Court in regard to his pending divorce trial. That letter stated that Larew would have an additional tax liability for 2004 of $134,517.00. Deckman stated in this letter to the court that the additional taxes were due to certain "adjustments." Deckman fails to describe these "adjustments." No such tax liability was shown on Larew's 2004 tax return that Deckman prepared and filed with the IRS (see April 20 letter at bottom of page). Court documents allege that this letter for the Court served the sole purpose of attempting to lower the perception of Larew's income to the Court, and defraud Larew's now ex-wife and children of child support.
2. On March 18, 2005 Deckman penned a similar letter (see March 18 letter at bottom of page) for the Connecticut Court that described Andrew Larew's tax liability for the alleged "sale" of a valuable building in Syracuse NY known as "The Atrium." Deckman stated that Larew's tax liability would be $119,075.00 for tax year 2005. No such tax liability was shown on the first 2005 tax return that Paula Deckman prepared and filed with the IRS on Larew's behalf (Deckman's amended return was not filed until January 2008). Again, the only opinion that can be drawn is that this letter from Deckman served no purpose other than lowering the perception of Larew's income, and to defraud Larew's ex-wife and children of child support.
3. Deckman made similar projections (that never bore true on Larew's tax returns that Deckman prepared and filed) for Larew in 2006 when he was very successful in having his child support obligation lowered yet again. Deckman's tax liability projections were so credible and persuasive that Larew's obligation to his children and ex-wife was slashed by over 42%. Through Deckman's "accounting", and Larew's "alleged" fraud, his children and ex-wife were forced from the only home they had ever known due to foreclosure, and have since had to move four additional times -- facing eviction every time.
4. Larew's 2005 tax return that Deckman prepared and filed, was fraudulent. In January 2008, Deckman prepared and filed yet another 2005 tax return (see Deckman Letter to IRS at bottom of page) on Larew's behalf. This amended tax return showed $146,520.00 in additional income that Larew received in 2005 that was not reflected on the original return that was filed in 2005. This concealed income, if known to the Connecticut Court in 2005 when the Court's decision was made to peg Larew's child support obligation based on $250,000.00 in yearly income, would have almost doubled Larew's child support obligation. Court documents state that the original 2005 tax return that Deckman filed on Larew's behalf intentionally and fraudulently lowered Larew's income to the court with the sole purpose of defrauding Larew's ex wife and children of their child support.
5. According to court records, and even more egregious than pervious letters she wrote on Larew's behalf, on July 7, 2008 Deckman penned yet another fraudulent letter. This letter was written to the IRS regarding Larew's amended 2005 tax return, and the "missing" $146,520.00 of income. Deckman stated that the IRS penalties for failure to report the $146,520.00 was Larew's ex-wife's fault (see PDF at bottom of page). Deckman stated to the IRS that Larew's ex-wife "hid" Larew's W-2 showing the income. Deckman, an educated woman and CPA, actually had the unmitigated gaul, and expectation that the IRS would believe that Larew's ex-wife "hid" the W-2 so that Larew's stated income would be LOWER, and therefore receive a lower child support award.
6. In the July 2008 letter to the IRS, Deckman made multiple fraudulent statements. First, she states that Larew was "forced to relinquish his partnership interest" in his company, Goedecke, Larew and Associates. Court documents prove Deckman knew that Larew left the partnership voluntarily to become a "contract employee" of said company. Deckman further knew that Larew never actually left the partnership. Larew simply manipulated the books of his company to lower his income throughout the year, in preparation of upcoming court hearings, and take a large $100,000.00 bonus on the last business day of the year. Soon thereafter, Larew actually did voluntarily leave his company, Goedecke Larew, to start a new company -- Larew Associates, LLC. Court documents clearly show that Deckman knew that Larew started Larew Associates LLC with the sole purpose of defrauding his ex-wife and children of child support. Deckman knew that Larew simply transferred his business interests into a new LLC, with "straw man" ownership in the name of Tony Fiorito and John Funiciello.
7. Documents clearly show that Deckman was aware of Larew's fraud. Deckman even allowed Larew to launder monies earned from Larew Associates LLC, to pay his personal tax preparation bills due to Deckman and her firm, Testone Marshall & Discenza. Deckman was further aware that Larew paid many, if not most, of his personal bills via his alter ego, Larew Associates LLC.
8. In the July 2008 letter to the IRS, Deckman also states that Larew "left the employment of his company" due to the unpleasant situation of his divorce. Deckman knew well that this was a lie, told simply to garner sympathy of the IRS. She knew that he left his own company, Goedecke Larew, in order to launder his income through Larew Associates LLC. None of Deckman's alleged lies were successful. The IRS disallowed her objections
9. Enter "Central New York Associates LLC" (CNY). Within 6 months of Larew's divorce being final in 2005, he had created CNY. CNY was owned by a partnership made up of Larew's new wife, Chrissy Wojcik (99%), and Larew's "straw men" Tony Fiorito (0.5%) and John Funiciello (0.5%). Court records clearly show that CNY was fraudulently set up by Larew to launder millions of dollars in cash and assets that were previously "sold" (for pennies on the dollar) by Larew during his divorce trial to Tony Fiorito and John Funiciello. Less than 6 months later Fiorito and Funiciello gave these assets, worth in excess of $20 million, to Larew's new wife for no consideration. Deckman prepared and filed 2006 and 2007 tax returns to the IRS for CNY. Obviously, Deckman knew of this fraudulent scheme to defraud Larew's ex-wife and children of their child support, did nothing about it, and then aided and abetted the fraud through her fraudulent IRS filings and letters of protest.
10. After Larew Associates LLC was wrapped up in January 2008, Larew started a new company, Larew Doyle and Associates LLC (LDA). Larew sent "Quickbooks" electronic accounting records for LDA to Deckman for tax review. These records clearly show debit card expenditures to "Victorias Secret", "Joseph A. Bank Clothiers," and further conspicuously evident personal purchases and expenditures via check. Deckman knew that LDA was owned by CNY.
11. Documents also prove by any shadow of a doubt that Deckman was fully aware that Larew was buying millions of dollars in valuable commercial real estate through CNY ("I hold all Larew investments in a trust like entity called CNY Associates for estate planning reasons"). Deckman kept the books and tax records for CNY. Larew continuously requested documents from Deckman regarding CNY, and Deckman sent them to Larew without hesitation even though Larew supposedly had no ownership, or even knowledge of, CNY. Larew stated to the Connecticut Court in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 through sworn deposition and trial testimony that he had no ownership in, or knowledge of CNY.
12. Lastly, court documents show that Deckman knew that Larew was pledging the assets of CNY, which he supposedly didn't own, as collateral for more mortgages to buy more real estate. Larew personally guaranteed over $30 million in mortgages for these valuable buildings, with a supposed income of $0.00 (income according to his January 2009 financial affidavit filed under oath to the Connecticut Court).

It is my humble opinion that Paula Deckman is as guilty of fraud as her client, Andrew Larew.

Documentation (click images or links below to view documents)

April 20 letter

March 18 letter

 Deckman letter to IRS