NEWS RELEASE

Eric Melgren, U.S. Attorney

Contact: Jim Cross
(316) 269-6481

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Headquarters
1200 Epic Center
301 N. Main
Wichita, Kansas 67202
(316)269-6481
FAX (316)269-6484

News releases are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ks/press.htm

Nov. 1 , 2005

COLORADO MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PREPARING FRAUDULENT TAX RETURNS IN KANSAS

WICHITA, KAN. – A Colorado man pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of preparing fraudulent tax returns in Kansas.
Delbert De Leon, 49, La Junta, Colo., admitted preparing fraudulent federal income tax returns for the years 2000 and 2001. He pleaded guilty to preparing false tax returns while acting as a paid preparer of taxes for three other persons: Carlos Arias, Santana Ramos and Robert F. Asebedo.

“Mr. De Leon admitted that he knew the forms contained false or inflated Schedule A income deductions that resulted in increased or fraudulent tax refunds,” said United States Attorney Eric Melgren. “He also admitted that he ‘guessed’ at fraudulent tax deduction figures that he thought would not cause the Internal Revenue Service to question the deductions.”
The loss to the United States government was approximately $80,000.

De Leon pleaded guilty to two counts of preparing false tax returns. The maximum penalty is three years in federal prison and a fine up to $100,000 on each count. Sentencing is set for 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 2006.

Melgren commended the work of IRS-Criminal Investigation, which investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger, who prosecuted the case.

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