Assisted in filing at least 65 returns with a loss to the IRS of over $300,000
PRESS RELEASE
Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today the sentencing of a former tax preparer for his role in assisting in the filing of tax returns for his clients, stealing over $300,000 from the U.S. Treasury. William L. Brown, 39, Indianapolis was sentenced in federal court today to one-year imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
“Filing fraudulent tax returns is stealing from the U.S. Treasury,” said Minkler. “My office will not look the other way when taxpaying citizens are victimized.”
Brown was employed as a tax preparer for Instant Tax Service (ITS) with multiple offices in the Central Indiana area. He was responsible for the accuracy of federal tax returns prepared by him and filed by ITS on behalf of its clients. From 2010 until 2012, Brown filed 65 returns, inflating business income or losses which resulted in unauthorized earned income credits and refunds to the taxpayer clients of ITS. In total over $302,000 was the loss to the IRS.
IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James D. Robnett said, "I am proud of the work of our agents. IRS special agents work tirelessly throughout the year to protect taxpayers from tax refund fraud. Today's sentencing is a reminder that taxpayers should be cautious of who they choose to prepare their tax returns."
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Warden who prosecuted the case, Brown must also pay $302,000 in restitution and serve one year on supervised release, the first six months of which are on home detention following his sentence.