Press Release
TWO SOUTH FLORIDA RESIDENTS PLEAD GUILTY TO TAX PREPARATION CONSPIRACY
October 7, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, announced that defendant Allen K. Smith, of Miami, pled guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States for the purpose of impeding the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Smith’s co-defendant, Mark Thomas, of Miami, pled guilty to the same charge on September 18, 2009. At sentencing, they each face a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of up to five years. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 8, 2010 in Miami, FL, before U.S. District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro.
As part of their plea agreements, each defendant agreed to pay $380,057.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to court documents, from approximately 2001 to 2005, Smith and Thomas conspired to defraud the U.S. by preparing fraudulent tax returns that contained fictitious or inflated deductions, often for medical expenses. The individuals for whom Smith and/or Thomas prepared false returns had legitimate Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 or other documents evidencing income and legitimate deductions. On virtually every return Smith and/or Thomas prepared, the taxpayer claimed a refund that was exactly equal to the withheld amount. Smith and Thomas often represented to their clients that the clients could receive refunds equal to the amount of taxes withheld.
Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosa Rodriguez-Mera.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Technical comments about this website can be e-mailed to the Webmaster. PLEASE NOTE: The United States Attorney's Office does not respond to non-technical inquiries made to this website. If you wish to make a request for information, you may contact our office at 305-961-9001, or you may send a written inquiry to the United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida, 99 NE 4th Street, Miami, Fl. 33132.