Return Preparer Who Evaded His Own Taxes Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

A Georgia man was sentenced today to two years in prison for evading his personal federal income taxes.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from 1999 to 2021, Samir Patel, of Statesboro, was a tax return preparer at a national return preparation business. In 2015, Patel purchased a franchise of the business in Claxton, Georgia. As the owner, he hired, trained and supervised tax preparers, while continuing to prepare returns for customers. Patel nevertheless evaded his own income taxes by, among other things, filing false returns for 2015 through 2017 that omitted over $1.28 million in income – including almost $1.18 million from his business, S&W Amusements, a company that placed coin-operated amusement machines in convenience stores and gas stations. In total, Patel caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $550,000.

In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall for the Southern District of Georgia ordered Patel to serve three years of supervised release and to pay a $95,000 fine and $551,450 in restitution to the United States.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Matthew C. Hicks and Richard J. Hagerman of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Harper III for the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.