Pastor Sentenced for Filing False Tax Returns

BOSTON – A former Worcester tax preparer was sentenced today for filing false tax returns with the IRS.

Nydia Elicier, 56, owner of Cox Elicier Tax, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Hillman to two years of probation, the first three months of which she is restricted by location monitoring, and 100 hours of community service.  Elicier is also prohibited from working as a tax preparer.  In April 2015, Elicier was convicted following a four-day jury trial of four counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

In 2008, Elicier, who also served as a pastor in a Worcester congregation, inflated client refunds by falsifying deductions in filings with the IRS.  Specifically, Elicier generated illegal refunds for clients by claiming deductions typically reserved for educators, false gifts to charity, overinflated medical expenses, and fraudulent unreimbursed employee expenses.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordi de Llano of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.