Downtown Restaurateur Cops To Tax Rap

Tribeca seafood restaurant Fresh "doesn't get enough attention," according to the latest Zagat Survey.

Its owner, Eric Tevrow, though, has attracted plenty -- albeit not the favorable kind.

Mr. Tevrow, who also owned the now-shuttered downtown eateries Coast and Shore, pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing sales taxes collected from all three restaurants.

According to the Manhattan District Attorney's office this afternoon:

Tevrow reported between 7% and only 15% of the collected sales tax for Shore and Fresh respectively, and none of the sales tax collected by Coast, and thereby stole $979,759 in sales tax from State Tax, collected by three restaurants over a 4 ½ year period. Tevrow also stole $133,312 in payroll taxes from Coast and Fresh.

Under a plea agreement, Mr. Tevrow will serve a four-month sentence; but he could spend up to 10 months in jail if he doesn't abide by the terms of the deal.

Fresh remains open for business.