Anchorage Man Charged with 32 Counts of Aiding and Assisting in Preparation of False Income Tax Returns

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Jose Luis Arenas, 64, of Anchorage, was named in an indictment charging him with 32 counts of aiding and assisting in preparation of false federal individual income tax returns.

According to the indictment, beginning in 2013, Arenas prepared tax returns for Alaska clients who paid him for his services.  The indictment alleges that for tax years 2013 through 2016, Arenas willfully reported false itemized expenses to the IRS on behalf of his clients.  Arenas’ false submissions allegedly included false medical and dental expenses that fraudulently reduced the amount of income tax owed, and/or fraudulently inflated his clients’ income tax refunds. 

If convicted, Arenas faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sayers-Fay.

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.