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Press Release

Surprise Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for False Claims to the IRS

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz. –Anthony Henry Williams, 52, of Surprise, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to four years in prison. Williams was convicted on January 11, 2023, of 17 counts including conspiracy, false claims to the IRS, and transactional money laundering.

In 2018 and 2019, Williams submitted seven false tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), claiming over $3 million in owed refunds. The IRS processed one of these returns that resulted in an unwarranted $600,000 refund to Williams. The IRS later advised him that the return was fraudulent, and that Williams needed to return the money. Williams failed to do so; instead, he purchased two luxury vehicles and a home, among other expenditures.

His co-defendant, Shakina Williams, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served followed by 12 months of supervised release for her role in the offense. Both defendants were ordered to pay almost $600,000 in restitution. They also were ordered to forfeit their interests in a Surprise home, an Audi A7, and a Porsche Panamera.

Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin M. Rapp and Kristen Brook, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-21-00722-PHX-MLT
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-047_Williams

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Contact

Public Affairs
Diana L. Varela
(602) 514-7743
diana.varela@usdoj.gov

Updated April 4, 2023

Topics
Tax
Financial Fraud
Press Release Number: 2023-047_Williams