Eugene, Ore. – Michael W. Holland pled guilty today before the Honorable Ann Aiken in U. S. District Court to a one-count Information charging him with assisting in the filing of a false tax return. Sentencing is scheduled for November 24, 2009.
Roy Raymond Zitek, of Redmond, Oregon, pled guilty in June 2004 to running an illegal gambling operation and to filing a false tax return with the IRS for the 1998 tax year. Holland, who is a Certified Public Accountant in Redmond, prepared that false tax return for Zitek. Holland knew that Zitek’s tax return was false in that it omitted Zitek’s income from an illegal sports betting (bookmaking) operation. This resulted in a tax loss to the government of about $42,000.
According to www.irs.gov, over 350 tax return preparers were prosecuted during the 2006 through 2008 fiscal years. “Tax professionals who fail to adhere to their professional obligations by helping their clients in defrauding the IRS will be held accountable,” said Teri Alexander, the IRS Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Oregon. “This conviction should serve as a notice to the public that it is critical to choose the right tax professional in helping you fulfill your tax obligations.”
Holland faces a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison, a $100,000 fine and a period of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Chris Cardani.
