Tax Division

Chicago-Area Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Tax Offenses https://lnkd.in/gavpwK7b

New Jersey CPA Pleads Guilty to Conspiring with Others to Defraud the United States Defendant Promoted Fraudulent Syndicated Conservation Easement Tax Shelters to Clients A New Jersey Certified Public Accountant (CPA) pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States by promoting fraudulent tax shelters to his high-income clients. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2018 and 2019, Ofer Gabbay, a CPA, of Paramus, New Jersey, conspired with others, including Jack Fisher, James Sinnott, and their assistant Kate Joy to promote fraudulent syndicated conservation easement tax shelters to their clients. These tax shelters facilitated high-income taxpayers in claiming unwarranted and inflated charitable contribution tax deductions in connection with the donation of a conservation easement over land. To carry out the scheme, Gabbay and others instructed clients to provide backdated checks, agreements and other documents to support the unwarranted tax deductions. Gabbay then prepared false tax returns for his participating clients. Fisher and Sinnott were sentenced to 25 year and 23 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in the scheme. Joy remains a fugitive. Gabbay faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Richard Rolwing and Trial Attorney Parker Tobin of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. https://lnkd.in/gWX4DWQs

Former Hotel Manager Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Return A former Texas hotel manager pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Derek T. Gilliland to filing a false income-tax return. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gNWqRnfW

Oregon Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes An Oregon business owner pleaded guilty yesterday to not paying over employment taxes to the IRS. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gQxDxCx8

Alabama Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion and Obstruction Defendant Evaded More than $2.5M in Taxes and Obstructed IRS Collection Efforts Read more: https://lnkd.in/gifRfn5H

California Commercial Real Estate Agent Pleads Guilty to Obstructing the IRS A California man pleaded guilty yesterday to obstructing the IRS’s efforts to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gA_aRThE

Two Florida Men Plead Guilty to Crimes Related to a Scheme to Prepare False Tax Returns for Clients Two Florida men pleaded guilty last week just before jury selection began for their June 2 trial. The two pled before Magistrate Judge David Baker to tax crimes related to a scheme to prepare false tax returns for clients. Specifically, Franklin Carter Jr., of Sanford, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and not filing tax returns, and Jonathan Carrillo, of St. Cloud pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. The plea must be accepted by a U.S. district court judge. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gPHwZNBk

Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes A Texas man pleaded guilty today before Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett for the Southern District of Texas to not reporting and paying over employment taxes that his company withheld from its employees’ paychecks. The plea must be accepted by a U.S. district court judge. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gXpqM5tu

Hawaii Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Tax Fraud A Hawaii woman pleaded guilty yesterday to defrauding her mortgage lender and conspiring to defraud the IRS by fraudulently obtaining a tax refund and then thwarting the IRS’ efforts to recoup it. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gcuMMq5E

California Executives Plead Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes Two California men pleaded guilty yesterday to not paying over employment taxes to the IRS. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gkfsPprz