Returns

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Topeka tax return preparer has been indicted on charges of filing false federal income tax returns as part of a scheme to obtain loans on the anticipated refunds, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

John Karundo Mukundi, 33, Topeka, Kan., was charged in an indictment unsealed today with 14 counts of filing a false federal income tax return, 12 counts of wire fraud and 12 counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges Mukundi purchased tax preparation software from Tax Wise and used it to submit fraudulent tax returns electronically to the Internal Revenue Service. He used the tax returns to obtain advanced payments of the refunds through refund anticipation loans and refund transfers from HSBC and Santa Barbara Bank and Trust. He used the names and Social Security numbers of real people to file false federal income tax returns.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
– Filing false returns: A maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to
$250,000 on each count.
– Wire fraud: A maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on each count.
– Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory two years to run consecutively to other counts and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

IRS- Criminal Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway are prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct

 

 

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