Orange County Electrician Sentenced Without Jail

A Newburgh electrician who pleaded guilty to multiple felonies received probation. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler recommended a prison sentence.

61-year-old Scott Duffie pleaded guilty to repeated failure to file personal income tax returns in violation of tax law and fraudulent practices in violation of the workers’ compensation law. In Orange County Court, Duffie was sentenced to three years’ probation. The District Attorney’s Office had recommended that Duffie be sentenced to one to three years in state prison.

“My office recommended that that this defendant be sentenced to state prison because of the ongoing nature of his crimes and since the amount of fraud involved exceeded $94,000,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “The illegal activities of unscrupulous contractors give those contractors an unfair advantage over contractors who play by the rules.”

Duffie, owner of Duffie Electric, admitted that he didn’t file personal income tax returns from 2011-2013. He also admitted to cheating his workers’ compensation insurance carrier by understating his payroll.

As part of the plea deal, Duffie paid $34,744 in restitution to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and $59,319 to The Hartford Insurance Company, his workers’ compensation insurance carrier.