Inland Empire Return Preparer Charged with Preparing False Tax Returns with Bogus Deductions for 5 Years

RIVERSIDE, California – An Inland Empire man was arrested this week after being named in a 47-count indictment alleging he prepared false tax returns for clients, the Justice Department announced today.

Salvador Gonzalez, of Corona, was arrested Monday afternoon by special agents with IRS Criminal Investigation after being charged last week by a federal grand jury. Gonzalez was arraigned on the indictment Tuesday afternoon in United States District Court, where he entered not guilty pleas. Gonzalez was ordered released on bond, and a trial in this case was scheduled for May 9.

The indictment charges Gonzalez with 47 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

According to the indictment filed on March 8 and unsealed Tuesday, Gonzalez operated a tax preparation business called Grace’s Lighthouse Resource Center, Inc., in Corona.

For tax years 2016 through 2021, Gonzalez allegedly prepared income tax returns for individuals and corporate clients to submit to the IRS that claimed tens of thousands of dollars in bogus business losses. Gonzalez also allegedly falsified additional deductions on client returns, including medical and dental expenses, unreimbursed employee expenses, and charitable contributions, knowing that the clients were not entitled to the amounts claimed.

If convicted in this case, Gonzalez would face a statutory maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count alleged in the indictment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Trisotto of the Riverside Branch Office and Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.