Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Filing $1.5 Million in False Tax Returns

Marice Curry, 35, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to filing false federal income tax returns, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, in 2023, Curry filed more than 50 false tax returns for businesses claiming more than $1.5 million in fraudulent refunds. He did so by claiming refundable fuel tax credits for the businesses while knowing that they were not entitled to the credits. The credits are supposed to allow businesses to recover excise taxes that they pay on fuel used for nontaxable, off-highway purposes such as farming and fishing.

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.

Curry is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on May 26, 2026. Curry faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.