FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
APRIL 13, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAX PREPARER SENTENCED FOR FRAUD CONSPIRACY
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Francis I. Ukadike, 49, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today to a prison term of one year and one day, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to defraud the United States, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to the statement of facts presented to the court on October 4, 2005 as part of his guilty plea, Ukadike admitted that between 1999 and 2002, he owned and managed Ukadike & Associates, CPA, an accounting and tax return preparation business located in Baltimore, Maryland. With the assistance of an employee, Ukadike filed at least 32 false tax returns for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 which falsely claimed refunds of $42,631. 28 returns were false in that they improperly claimed head of household filing status for individuals that Ukadike knew to be married, which enabled these individuals to qualify and falsely claim the earned income tax credit (EITC). Four returns were false in that they claimed false schedule C losses in order to maximize the amount of claimed EITC.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul M. Tiao, who prosecuted the case.
This page last modified—April 17, 2006