Lynn Tax Preparer Sentenced for Federal Tax Fraud

BOSTON – A Lynn tax preparer was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Boston for filing fraudulent personal federal tax returns and attempting to obstruct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

Arismendy Ramos, a/k/a Arismendi Ramos, a/k/a Aris Almonte, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release and restitution of $171,951.  In October 2015, Ramos pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with four counts of filing false tax returns and two counts of obstructing the IRS. 

Ramos owned and operated Almonte Tax, a tax preparation service in Lynn, and personally prepared tax returns for numerous clients.  From 2008 through 2013, Ramos filed false forms with the IRS claiming that he paid clients to work for him when in fact they had never been employed or paid by him.  Ramos then claimed the bogus wages as business expenses on his own tax returns, thereby reducing his personal tax liabilities.  Furthermore, Ramos instructed two clients that they should lie if they were asked about the false wages. 

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Kristina O’Connell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.