NY State Sues Businessman Over Property Tax Exemption Scam

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A new lawsuit brought by the New York state attorney general accuses a Long Island man of bilking $1.5 million from more than 1,500 homeowners in a property tax exemption scam.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Thursday that 64-year-old Arie Gal charged clients "excessive fees" for filing applications to the New York State School Tax Relief program when they could've done it themselves for free.

Prosecutors say Gal even demanded payment from some homeowners who filed themselves.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in state Supreme Court in Nassau County, seeks full restitution for every client who was swept up in Gal's alleged scam.

Schneiderman said the East Meadow man and his company, STAR Exemption Advisor, manipulated one of the few forms of financial relief available to homeowners.

Gal didn't return requests seeking comment.