Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Tax Fraud and Mail Fraud

Michael Edwards was sentenced today to serve two concurrent sentences of 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $573,518 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Justice Department and IRS announced.  On Dec. 3, 2013, Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the IRS and one count of wire fraud.  Both charges arise from Edwards’ operation of his tax return preparation business, Boston Financial Associates (BFA) and Edwards’ misappropriation of income tax refunds from two of his clients in 2009. 

According to court documents, Edwards admitted that he misled an IRS auditor reviewing one of his client’s 2007 and 2008 income tax returns by giving her false documentation that claimed to support the false entries on the returns.  Edwards misappropriated federal income tax refunds of $573,518 from one client and $202,143 from another client.  As of the sentencing date, Edwards has made restitution to one of his clients and was also ordered to pay restitution to the second client.

This case was investigated by IRS – Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Corey J. Smith of the Tax Division.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found at  the division website