December 12, 2012|By Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
A Sunrise man arrested Wednesday faces charges of embezzling $20 million from his former employer in a payroll tax fraud scheme, federal prosecutors said.
Sonny Ramdeo, founder and CEO of the Guyana-based airline EZjet, was arrested in Brooklyn, N.Y., but will likely face trial in Florida, said Annette Castillo, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, in Miami.
From as early as 2005, Ramdeo, 35, worked as the payroll supervisor at Promise Healthcare Inc. and Success Healthcare Group. As the payroll supervisor for both companies, Ramdeo managed the payroll for more than 3,500 employees in hospitals nationwide.
Federal officials say Ramdeo incorporated PayServ Tax Inc., and told the hospital chains he would handle the transfer of local, state and federal payroll taxes to the proper agencies on their behalf. Instead, authorities say, he kept the money.
In October, Promise Healthcare filed a lawsuit accusing Ramdeo of embezzling more than $5 million to keep his airline afloat.
sbryan@tribune.com or 954-356-4554
http://articles.sun-sentinel.c...e-boss-payroll-chain