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July 20, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY
Greenbelt - United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning, Vicki Duane, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Lynne A. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Robert Brickley, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), announced today that Anthony Deal, 32, of Mitchellville, pleaded guilty to a Criminal Information charging him with 1 count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, 3 counts of failure to file tax returns, and 4 counts of aiding and abetting the filing of false income tax returns. Deal faces a maximum penalty on the conspiracy of 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, 1 year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine on each count of failure to file a tax return, and 3 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count of aiding and abetting in the filing of a false income tax return. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. has set sentencing for November 2, 2001 at 9:30 a.m. According to the Statement of Facts presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Wilkinson, beginning in 1993, Anthony Deal was self-employed as a tax return preparer and real estate salesperson, operating a business called Prime Group Benefits Association in Largo. Deal admitted that he did not file his federal income tax returns for calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997, resulting in more than $17,000 in taxes owed to the government. In addition, Deal prepared and filed false federal income tax returns for clients of his tax preparation business for calendar years 1994 through 1997, claiming false business losses, childcare credits, and a false real estate tax deduction on the clients' returns. According to the Statement of Facts, Deal prepared false returns for at least 11 clients, resulting in more than $30,000 due and owing to the IRS. Also according to the Statement of Facts, in 1998 Anthony Deal began working for Deal Real Estate, Inc., a brokerage firm. In this capacity, Anthony Deal conducted numerous property sales using false and fraudulent information. Specifically, Deal admitted that he submitted false and misleading documentation, including false verification of employment, wage statements and gift letters, so that an otherwise unqualified borrower could qualify for a loan insured through the FHA Mortgage Insurance Program. To date, HUD has identified 36 loans, totaling more than $5 million, that would not have been insured by HUD had the correct information been submitted by Deal. This case was investigated by Special Agents from IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI and HUD-OIG. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Wilkinson. # # # |