Wareham Asphalt Company Charged for Tax Evasion

WAREHAM — A Wareham-based asphalt company is facing new accusations from the state after the firm, its founder and a former accountant were all indicted on tax evasion and obstruction charges for allegedly falsifying financial documents.

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office announced yesterday that Rochester Bituminous Products Inc. and two company officials were indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury in connection to the alleged scheme.

Company founder Albert Todesca, 69, of Mashpee and 37-year-old former company accountant Christopher Polito of Dedham face charges of tax evasion, conspiracy to commit tax evasion, disclosing false documents to the state's revenue department, and obstructing the administration of tax laws.

The company itself was also indicted on charges of tax evasion, disclosing false documents to the Department of Revenue, and obstructing the administration of tax laws.

A representative from the firm could not immediately be reached for comment.

Get our free mobile app

Rochester Bituminous, which is located on Kings Highway in West Wareham, has been in trouble with the AG's office before.

In January, the company was cited for violating labor laws after allegedly underpaying 22 workers on public projects by around $30 per hour.

Polito was also charged for allegedly falsifying company tax records last November.

The new charges come after an investigation found Todesca allegedly directed the company to evade sales taxes on asphalt sales from 2011 through 2013.

According to the office, Todesca and Polito evaded the taxes by submitting false documents to the state's revenue department from 2014 to 2017 in an attempt to obstruct an audit of the company.

Specifically, the AG’s office alleges that Todesca directed Polito to alter documents to make it seem as if sales were made to tax-exempt entities in order to avoid the state's 6.25% sales tax.

In reality, according to the office, the sales detailed in the falsified documents were made to non-exempt firms.

Although Todesca held no official company title, the AG's office said he exercised control over Rochester Bituminous.

The AG's office noted the defendants will be arraigned at a later date.

The investigation is ongoing.