For Filing More Than 40 False Tax Returns, A Tax Preparer In The Houston Area Was Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison, The Us Attorney Says

HOUSTON, TX – According to U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. A former Houston area tax preparer is sentenced to federal prison. For fraudulently filing tax returns from 2014 to 2017.

On June 3, David Wright entered a guilty plea.
Wright sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on Tuesday. Followed by one year of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge David Hittner. Wright is ordered to pay the IRS $178,688 in restitution.

During the hearing, the court heard an additional argument about how Wright profited from several years of filing fraudulent tax returns.

The court notes the nature of the offense. That Wright employed others to participate in the fraudulent activity. These fraudulent filings are done without the knowledge of the taxpayer clients when imposing the sentence.

According to the investigation, Wright and his employees prepared and submitted 43 fraudulent tax returns for 16 clients. They allegedly used false Schedule C Business Income or Loss deductions to inflate tax refunds for clients consistently.

Among the fictitious expenses were advertising, vehicle/transportation, legal/professional services, office/business property costs, maintenance, supplies, travel, and utilities. According to court documents, the IRS suffered a tax loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Wright apprehends and will transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility shortly.

The IRS-Criminal Investigation carried out the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Zahra Jivani Fenelon prosecuted the case, Zahra Jivani Fenelon.