Niagara county business owner exonerated of tax fraud charges

The Niagara County District Attorney dismissed sales tax fraud charges this week against the owner of several Western New York lumberyard and hardware stores after a six-month long investigation revealed there was no money owed to the state’s tax department. Niagara County business owner Gail Villani was arraigned on felony charges in September, after the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance claimed that the 63-year-old Grand Island resident and other family members involved in the…