Tag:

Tax Fraud

$100M Scheme: Man From Region Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds $100M Scheme: Man From Region Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds
$100M Scheme: Man From Region Known As 'Magician' Nabbed In One Of Largest Ever Frauds A New York man known as "the Magician" has been charged in connection with one of the largest-ever tax fraud schemes by a tax preparer, federal officials announced. Northern Westchester County resident Rafael Alvarez, of Cortlandt Manor, has been charged in connection with a $100 million tax fraud scheme involving tens of thousands of federal individual income tax returns with false information, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Monday, April 15.  According to federal officials, from 2010 to 2020, Alvarez, also known as "the Magi…
Over $955K Scheme: Former Orange Office Manager Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement Over $955K Scheme: Former Orange Office Manager Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement
Over $955K Scheme: Former Orange Office Manager Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement A 53-year-old former office manager from Connecticut will spend years in prison for embezzling nearly $956,000 from the family-owned construction business she worked for, officials announced. New Haven County resident Erin Sullivan of Cheshire, age 53, was sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 21 to 24 months in prison for her embezzlement scheme and tax fraud, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced. According to federal officials, Sullivan was employed as the office manager for the Orange-based construction business she worked for. Beginning at least as early as 2016, Su…
$600K Fraud: CT Tax Preparer Gets Prison Time For Including Fake Expenses In Returns $600K Fraud: CT Tax Preparer Gets Prison Time For Including Fake Expenses In Returns
$600K Fraud: CT Tax Preparer Gets Prison Time For Including Fake Expenses In Returns A Connecticut man will spend years in prison for including false expenses on income tax returns for clients, federal officials announced.  David Etienne, a 49-year-old New London County tax return preparer based in Norwich, was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday, Jan. 17 for a tax fraud offense, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  According to federal officials, Etienne worked through several businesses, including Los Maestros Inc., Los Maestros Group, Tax Experts USA, and Tax Experts USA Inc. Between the 2012 and 2021 tax…
Wilton Contractor Admits To Tax Offense: Provided False Invoices To IRS Wilton Contractor Admits To Tax Offense: Provided False Invoices To IRS
Wilton Contractor Admits To Tax Offense: Provided False Invoices To IRS A contractor from Fairfield County faces prison time after admitting to providing fabricated invoices and letters to the Internal Revenue Service, federal officials announced.  Wilton resident David Anspach, age 67, pleaded guilty to a tax offense in Hartford federal court on Wednesday, Nov. 15, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  According to federal officials, Anspach operates a construction and remodeling business. As a result of a civil audit of Anspach's 2013 tax return, the IRS found that his business receipts were un…
CT Man Gets Prison Time For Tax Evasion: Ordered To Pay Over $160K To IRS CT Man Gets Prison Time For Tax Evasion: Ordered To Pay Over $160K To IRS
CT Man Gets Prison Time For Tax Evasion: Ordered To Pay Over $160K To IRS A 61-year-old Connecticut man will spend time in prison for filing a false tax return and providing false documentation to an Internal Revenue Service attorney, federal officials announced.  Tolland County resident David Kamal, age 61, of Stafford, was sentenced on Monday, Sept. 11 to eight months in prison for tax evasion, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  Earlier Report - CT Man Charged With Tax Fraud, Obstruction, ID Theft Offenses According to federal officials, Kamal, a former Hebron resident, purposefully evaded taxes for the 2012 tax…
$2M Federal Tax Fraud Scheme: CT Restaurant Closes After Owner's Sentencing $2M Federal Tax Fraud Scheme: CT Restaurant Closes After Owner's Sentencing
$2M Federal Tax Fraud Scheme: CT Restaurant Closes After Owner's Sentencing A popular Connecticut restaurant has closed months after its part-owner's sentencing in a $2 million tax fraud scheme. Hartford County staple Ginza Japanese Restaurant posted on the door of its Wintonbury Mall hibachi location in Bloomfield that Friday, June 30 was its last day in business. The eatery cited an ending lease for its closure and thanked customers for their support through the years. Federal prosecutors say Ginza's part-owner, William Chen, and others who worked at Ginza and various area restaurants, deleted cash transactions to reduce the gross receipts and the amou…
$135K Spent At Strip Clubs: Government Contractor Manager From Darien Admits Hiding Expenses $135K Spent At Strip Clubs: Government Contractor Manager From Darien Admits Hiding Expenses
$135K Spent At Strip Clubs: Government Contractor Manager From Darien Admits Hiding Expenses A Westchester County government contractor and its manager from Fairfield County have admitted to trying to hide tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money spent at strip clubs.  City Carting of Westchester, Inc. and its manager, 37-year-old Christopher Oxer of Darien, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 6 to submitting false financial records that hid more than $100,000 in company money that was spent at strip clubs, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.  According to the DA's Office, City Carting held an annual $20 million contract with the county …
Out-Of-State Tax Preparer Set Up Shop In Connecticut To File False Returns Out-Of-State Tax Preparer Set Up Shop In Connecticut To File False Returns
Out-Of-State Tax Preparer Set Up Shop In Connecticut To File False Returns A Florida tax preparer who flew to Connecticut every year to work on people's federal returns will spend next year's tax season behind bars, authorities said on Tuesday, May 30.  Keyante Paul, age 34, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after she pleaded guilty in February to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. Paul ran Keys Tax Services and would set up shop in the New London County town of Norwich each year to prepare tax returns for clients that included false "adjustments," which reduced what the …
CT Tax Preparer Helped Falsify Dozens Of Clients' Returns: Feds CT Tax Preparer Helped Falsify Dozens Of Clients' Returns: Feds
CT Tax Preparer Helped Falsify Dozens Of Clients' Returns: Feds A Connecticut tax preparer is out on bond after a federal court charged him with more than two dozen counts of helping his client falsify tax returns over several years, authorities announced on Tuesday, Jan. 31.  David Etienne, age 48, pleaded not guilty to 25 counts of tax fraud on Monday and was released on a $100,000 bond, the US Attorney for Connecticut announced.  From 2015 through 2019, Etienne ran tax preparation services at Los Maestros Inc, Los Maestros Group, Tax Experts USA, and Tax Experts USA Inc. Prosecutors alleged he helped clients prepare numerous federal ta…
Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case
Jury Finds Trump Organization Guilty On All Counts In NY Tax Fraud Case A New York jury has found former President Donald Trump’s company guilty of all charges in a tax fraud scheme that prosecutors said spanned more than a decade. Jurors deliberated for just over a day before finding the Trump Organization guilty on 17 counts, including criminal tax fraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records, in State Supreme Court in Manhattan Tuesday, Dec. 6. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the scheme was orchestrated by “high managerial agents”, including chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg and controller Jeffrey McConney. BREAKING: For the …
Woman Who Owns Fairfield County Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense Woman Who Owns Fairfield County Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense
Woman Who Owns Fairfield County Grocery Store Sentenced For $400K Tax Offense An owner of a Fairfield County grocery store was sentenced for a tax fraud offense that caused the IRS a loss of more than $400,000. Lizbel Sanchez, of Brookfield, was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 18, to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $400,000 fine, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Sanchez pleaded guilty on April 14 to one count of willful failure to collect or pay over taxes, Avery reported. Earlier report - Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Danbury Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes Sanchez is a minority owner…
Employee At NY Pharmaceutical Company Admits To Embezzling $1.38M, Tax Fraud Employee At NY Pharmaceutical Company Admits To Embezzling $1.38M, Tax Fraud
Employee At NY Pharmaceutical Company Admits To Embezzling $1.38M, Tax Fraud A former employee at a New York pharmaceutical company has admitted to embezzling nearly $1.5 million and committing tax fraud. Long Island resident Maria Porras, age 32, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of grand larceny and tax fraud Friday, Sept. 30, in Nassau County court. Prosecutors said Porras worked as an officer manager at RxUSA in Port Washington, where her duties gave her access to the company’s bookkeeping system. Over a five-year period between 2015 and 2019, she generated checks written from RxUSA’s account and from the accounts of two other affiliated companies, Eveready Wh…
CT Woman Whose Business Prepared Taxes Sentenced For Filing False Returns CT Woman Whose Business Prepared Taxes Sentenced For Filing False Returns
CT Woman Whose Business Prepared Taxes Sentenced For Filing False Returns A woman from Connecticut whose business prepared tax returns for thousands of people will spend time behind bars and pay more than $500,000 in restitution for filing false returns, federal authorities announced. New Haven County resident Ana Nunez, also known as Ana Pagoda, age 51, of Naugatuck, was sentenced in Hartford to 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for filing false tax returns for clients of her tax preparation service. US Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said that between 2011 and 2016, Nunez owned and operated Nunez MultiServices, a tax return prepa…
Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Fairfield County Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Fairfield County Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes
Woman Who Operates A C-Town In Fairfield County Admits To Failure To Pay Taxes The owner of a grocery store in the region admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the government through a federal tax fraud scheme. Fairfield County resident Lizbel Sanchez, also known as Lizbel Diaz, age 47, of Brookfield, the co-owner of a C-Town location in Danbury, pleaded guilty to a federal tax offense. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that Sanchez, a minority owner of Danbury Food Corp., which operates a C-Town grocery store in the city, was responsible for the company’s accounting and financial records, as well as collecting and paying federal taxes from some empl…
Fairfield County Tax Return Preparer Admits To Fraud Fairfield County Tax Return Preparer Admits To Fraud
Fairfield County Tax Return Preparer Admits To Fraud A Fairfield County tax preparer has admitted to a charge related to claiming false deductions in clients' tax returns. Torise Baker, age 38, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 21, to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent income tax returns, according to Leonard Boyle, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. From the 2014 through 2016 tax years, Baker prepared about 3,600 federal tax returns for clients through her 101 Things 2 Do, LLC business in Bridgeport, the US Attorney's Office said. Boyle sa…
CT Man Charged With Tax Fraud, Obstruction, ID Theft Offenses CT Man Charged With Tax Fraud, Obstruction, ID Theft Offenses
CT Man Charged With Tax Fraud, Obstruction, ID Theft Offenses A Connecticut man is facing a host of federal charges for alleged tax fraud, obstruction, and identity theft offenses, officials announced. Tolland County resident David Kamal, age 60, of Stafford, formerly of Hebron, was charged in an 11-count indictment and will face years in prison if found guilty, US Attorney Leonard Boyle announced. Specifically, Kamal was charged with: Two counts of tax evasion; Four counts of filing a false tax return; Obstruction; Four counts of unlawful use of a means of identification. It is alleged that Kamal evaded taxes for the 2012 and 2013 tax years by fil…
CT Business Owner Sentenced For Filing False Federal Income Tax Returns CT Business Owner Sentenced For Filing False Federal Income Tax Returns
CT Business Owner Sentenced For Filing False Federal Income Tax Returns A Connecticut business owner will spend time behind bars after admitting to filing false tax returns. Hartford County resident George Lee, age 51, of Glastonbury, who operates USA Paving has been sentenced to six months in prison followed by a year of supervised release after pleading guilty in July 2021 to one count of filing a false tax return. In addition to his prison time, Lee also was ordered to pay a $5,500 fine. US Attorney Leonard Boyle said that between 2015 and 2018, Lee provided his tax return preparer with information that substantially understated the gross receipts for the p…
Trump Organization Faces New Criminal Inquiry By Westchester District Attorney's Office Trump Organization Faces New Criminal Inquiry By Westchester District Attorney's Office
Trump Organization Faces New Criminal Inquiry By Westchester District Attorney's Office Former President Donald Trump’s family business is facing potential new legal woes in Westchester after the District Attorney’s Office subpoenaed records from his golf club. First reported by the New York Times, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah’s office has started examining the financial dealings at the Briarcliff Manor golf club, subpoenaing records from the course, Trump National Golf Club Westchester, and the town of Ossining, which sets property taxes on the course. The full scope of the investigation has not been released, though the report states that the Trump Organi…
Trump Organization, CFO Charged With 15 Felonies For Alleged Years-Long Tax Scheme Trump Organization, CFO Charged With 15 Felonies For Alleged Years-Long Tax Scheme
Trump Organization, CFO Charged With 15 Felonies For Alleged Years-Long Tax Scheme The Trump Organization and its longtime CFO Allen Weisselberg have been charged with 15 felony counts in an effort to evade taxes over the course of 15 years, according to a newly unsealed indictment released in federal court. Weisselberg, who is accused of evading nearly $2 million in taxes, surrendered to Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. on Thursday, July 1, and pleaded not guilty to felony charges that include criminal tax fraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records. He was released following the court appearance, though his passport had to be surrendered to the court. The charges rep…
Fairfield County Tax Preparer Sentenced For Defrauding IRS Of Nearly $1M Fairfield County Tax Preparer Sentenced For Defrauding IRS Of Nearly $1M
Fairfield County Tax Preparer Sentenced For Defrauding IRS Of Nearly $1M A tax preparer in Fairfield County will spend months in prison after admitting to preparing hundreds of false tax returns for clients. Veronica Huitzil, 39, was sentenced in Bridgeport district court to six months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to preparing false tax returns and defrauding the IRS out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Huitzil, of Bridgeport, operated a tax return preparation practice in Bridgeport, assisting in the preparation and filing of more than 3,700 federal tax returns for the 2014 through 2018 tax years, U.S. Attorney …
Fairfield County Tax Preparer Admits To Lying On Clients' Returns Fairfield County Tax Preparer Admits To Lying On Clients' Returns
Fairfield County Tax Preparer Admits To Lying On Clients' Returns A tax preparer in Fairfield County is facing prison time after admitting to preparing hundreds of false tax returns for clients. Veronica Huitzil, 39, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport district court this week to preparing false tax returns and defrauding the IRS out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Huitzil, of Bridgeport, who operated a tax return preparation practice in Bridgeport, assisted in the preparation and filing of more than 3,700 federal tax returns for the 2014 through 2018 tax years, U.S. Attorney John Durham said.  Durham said that many of the filed tax returns claimed …
Former Tax Preparer In Area Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $550K Restitution Former Tax Preparer In Area Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $550K Restitution
Former Tax Preparer In Area Sentenced, Ordered To Pay $550K Restitution A former tax preparer in the area will spend time in prison after allegedly stealing $550,000 from the IRS through an elaborate scam. Devon Williams, 30, a former tax preparer in New Haven now living in Atlanta, was sentenced in New Haven district court to eight months in prison, followed by a year of supervised release, for preparing false tax returns. In addition to his prison sentence, Williams was also ordered to pay restitution of $550,000. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Williams formerly owned and operated Perfect Preparers, LLC, a tax preparation business based in New Haven.&nb…
Stratford Tax Preparer Sentenced For Filing Numerous False Return Stratford Tax Preparer Sentenced For Filing Numerous False Return
Stratford Tax Preparer Sentenced For Filing Numerous False Return A tax preparer from Stratford will spend time behind bars after admitting to preparing false federal income tax returns. Juan Silva, 38, was sentenced in Hartford district court to seven months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for preparing numerous false income tax returns. Silva was also ordered to serve 45 days of home confinement and must perform 80 hours of community service while on release. Silva operated Oficina Hispana, a multi-service business that included tax return preparations. Between 2011 and 2017, he falsified itemized deductions and unreimbursed employe…
CT Business Owner Admits To Filing False Tax Returns Of Nearly $300K CT Business Owner Admits To Filing False Tax Returns Of Nearly $300K
CT Business Owner Admits To Filing False Tax Returns Of Nearly $300K A Connecticut businessman has admitted to falsifying his tax returns to the tune of nearly $300,000, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced this week. Town of Durham resident William Scalzi, the owner of Transportation General in West Haven, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of subscribing a false tax return after understating his taxes for several years. According to the U.S. Attorney, Scalzi, 61, understated his taxable income by running personal expenses through his company.   Scalzi admitted to using his company’s credit cards to pay for numerous personal expenses, which wer…
Tax Preparer Indicted For Filing False Returns In Naugatuck Tax Preparer Indicted For Filing False Returns In Naugatuck
Tax Preparer Indicted For Filing False Returns In Naugatuck A tax preparer in Connecticut is facing a dozen charges for allegedly filing false returns over the course of several years. Ana Nunez - also known as Ana Pagoaga - of Naugatuck, has been indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with 12 counts of filing false tax returns. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that Nunez was the owner of Nunez Multiservices, LLC, a tax return preparation service located in her hometown. Between 2011 and 2016, Nunez allegedly falsified information on tax returns she prepared for clients and caused the returns to be fil…
CT Man Sentenced, Must Pay Back $400K For Preparing False Returns CT Man Sentenced, Must Pay Back $400K For Preparing False Returns
CT Man Sentenced, Must Pay Back $400K For Preparing False Returns A former tax preparer in Connecticut is heading to prison and must pay back more than $400,000 for preparing false tax returns and underpaying his own federal taxes. Waterbury resident Michael Mir, 41, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison following a four-year scheme through a tax preparation practice he operated in his hometown. From 2012 through 2015, Mir prepared more than 3,300 federal tax returns, John Durham, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, stated when announcing his sentence this week. During that time, Mir falsified information on numerous returns…
Ex-Cop Who Owes IRS $400K Sentenced To Federal Prison Ex-Cop Who Owes IRS $400K Sentenced To Federal Prison
Ex-Cop Who Owes IRS $400K Sentenced To Federal Prison A scheme to falsify tax records went wrong for a former cop in Connecticut, who owes the IRS nearly $400,000 and will spend time behind bars after filing a falsified tax return. Crag Francis - also known as Horus Jurjaya Bey - a former Hartford Police officer, was sentenced in Hartford District Court on Friday to 18 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for filing a false tax return. In February 2009, Windsor resident Francis e-filed a 2008 federal income tax return that listed falsely inflated amounts of both interest income received and taxable income withheld by the…
CT Woman Who Embezzled $190K From Employer Sentenced CT Woman Who Embezzled $190K From Employer Sentenced
CT Woman Who Embezzled $190K From Employer Sentenced A Connecticut woman is heading to prison after pleading guilty to embezzling nearly $200,000 from her employer and failing to pay income tax on that income. Windsor resident Rebecca Block, 43, has been sentenced in court to a term of 12 months and one day in prison, followed by a year of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of filing a false return for embezzling an estimated $190,000 from her former employer, John Durham, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced this week. While working for PG Life Planning Associates in West Hartford, Block sto…
Fairfield County Man Must Pay $500K For Income Tax Offense Fairfield County Man Must Pay $500K For Income Tax Offense
Fairfield County Man Must Pay $500K For Income Tax Offense A Norwalk bookkeeper has been sentenced to probation and must pay back nearly a half million dollars after pleading guilty to tax fraud - largely as a result of gambling - in district court. John Durham, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced the sentencing of Eddie Chan, 58, who will be subject to five years probation and must pay approximately $500,000 in restitution for his former employer following a guilty plea for filing false tax returns last year. Chan was employed at a private art firm in Manhattan, according to court records, and between 2013 and 2015…
Beware Of This IRS Tax Scam, Police Warn Beware Of This IRS Tax Scam, Police Warn
Beware Of This IRS Tax Scam, Police Warn Officials with the New Canaan Police Department are warning employers and employees in Fairfield County to be aware of opportunistic IRS scammers who may attempt to scam residents in the area. In an alert issued on Monday, the department warned residents that “as you may be preparing and filing tax returns, be aware of IRS scammers,” who may attempt to intimidate vulnerable people over the phone with threats of arrest if one doesn’t pay with an iTunes gift card. Police said that under no circumstance should one provide a potential caller with any personal information and that one should han…
Police: Former Tax Preparer Used Six Fake Identities To Keep Lights On Police: Former Tax Preparer Used Six Fake Identities To Keep Lights On
Police: Former Tax Preparer Used Six Fake Identities To Keep Lights On BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A former tax preparer with a criminal history was arrested Tuesday after police said she stole United Illuminating service for years using stolen identities from victims as far away as Alabama and Kentucky. Sharonda Chisholm-Ferguson, 63, of Bridgeport, was charged with third-degree larceny, third-degree identity theft and two counts of second-degree larceny, police said. She was taken into custody at 6:15 a.m. after she returned a work vehicle to a North Avenue parking lot. A fraud protection investigator for the electric company told police that power to Chisholm-Ferg…