Which is why they always fail to attain felony convictions
" Simply, if you delete, alter or make a false entry in the business records of an enterprise and you do so with the intent to defraud, you have run afoul of the misdemeanor crime. If when you do so, you also have the intent to further or conceal another criminal offense, then you have committed the felony crime."
https://www.new-york-lawyers.org/falsifying-business-records-ny-pl-175-10-and-175-15.html#:~:text=Simply%2C if you delete%2C alter,have committed the felony crime.
"he intent to further or conceal another criminal offense" is the operative phrase here,