Tax Preparers Indicted for Identify Theft, Wire Fraud, and Filing False Returns

PHILADELPHIA, PA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain, along with Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman, announced today that the owner and operator of a Philadelphia-based tax preparation business and his employee were charged with preparing fraudulent tax returns and related crimes in order to reduce taxes and inflate federal tax refunds for their clients.

Nvahbulai Quisiah, 43, of Philadelphia, and Gofin Kosia, 43, of Philadelphia, were charged by federal indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, 17 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of a false tax return, 6 counts of wire fraud, and 6 counts of aggravated identity theft.  Quisiah is the owner of First Premier Tax Service, a tax preparation business, and Kosia is a tax preparer employed there.

According to the indictment, Quisiah and Kosia prepared tax returns for clients for tax years 2009 through 2016 that fraudulently inflated itemized deductions, claimed fictitious Schedule C businesses, and claimed false dependents.  As a result of these false items and deductions, the defendants allegedly inflated claimed tax refunds for their clients.  The indictment alleges that the defendants knew their clients were not entitled to such refunds.  One of the clients was an IRS agent acting in an undercover capacity.  The indictment also alleges that the defendants bought and sold personal identifying information of children in order to falsely claim the children as dependents on tax returns for the defendants’ clients.   

If convicted of aggravated identity theft, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.  Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, while each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns carries a maximum three year prison term.   The defendants also face a period of supervised release, fines, and the payment of restitution.

“Tax preparers are supposed to follow and apply our tax laws to assist clients to accurately report their income and pay their fair share of federal taxes, not bend or ignore the rules to suit their client’s needs,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain.  “As alleged, the defendants enriched themselves and their clients at the expense of taxpayers who take seriously their legal obligation to file complete and accurate federal income taxes each year.  My Office will continue to aggressively prosecute these kinds of cases.” 

An indictment alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Wzorek and Department of Justice Tax Division Attorney Ann M. Cherry.