Kent County Tax Return Preparer, Andres Orrego-Hernandez, Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Defraud The Government And Aiding In The Filing Of A False Tax Return

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Grand Rapids resident Andres Orrego-Hernandez, age 30, pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government and aiding in the filing of a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today. U.S. Attorney Miles was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman, IRS– Criminal Investigation.

          According to the plea agreement filed with the court, Orrego-Hernandez admitted his role in the conspiracy that ran between January 2010 and May 2011 and in aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent federal income tax returns. The returns filed inflated income and/or the number of dependents to qualify for the earned income credit and/or inflated or claimed entirely false deductions or credits to qualify for larger refunds, such as credits for qualified education expenses. Orrego-Hernandez directed the portion of the client refunds attributable to his criminal activity to bank accounts he controlled. Orrego-Hernandez’s actions defrauded the United States of well in excess of $67,682.

          Orrego-Hernandez pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Phil Green but will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney in approximately three months. Judge Maloney will determine the total amount of the loss to the government as a result of Orrego-Hernandez’s criminal activity. He faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy conviction and up to three years in prison on the conviction for aiding and abetting the filing of a false tax return.

           "We cannot allow special credits, such as qualified education expenses, to be abused by people like Orrego-Hernandez. Each of us must be vigilant when using a return preparer," said Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman. "Taxpayers should review their return for accuracy before it is filed."

          This case was investigated by Special Agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Rene Shekmer prosecuted the case.

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