Bloomfield, n.J., man pleads guilty in tax fraud case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 29, 2011

 

TRENTON, N.J. - A Bloomfield, N.J., tax preparer today admitted to preparing tax returns he knew were false in order to get his clients large refunds to which they were not entitled, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Rigot Joseph, 54, pleaded guilty to Count One of an Indictment, charging him with aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns. Joseph entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan today in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Joseph, the sole owner of RJM Professional Tax Services, aided and assisted in the preparation of tax returns that claimed fabricated and inflated Schedule A itemized deductions for his clients. Joseph met with clients at RJM Professional Tax Services in East Orange, N.J., where he prepared their tax returns for a fee. For filing years 2003 through 2007, Joseph prepared client tax returns that claimed deductions based on false gifts to charity, false job expenses and other false miscellaneous expenses, in order to obtain large refunds for his clients. He then filed the tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

The count to which Joseph pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 4, 2012.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Victor W. Lessoff, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen P. O'Leary of the U.S. Attorney's Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Lorraine S. Gauli-Rufo Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark, N.J.

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