Tampa Man Sentenced To Prison For Filing False Tax Returns

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sentenced Thomas Ramon Castillo to two years in federal prison for filing two false personal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

Castillo had pleaded guilty on August 27, 2019.

According to court documents and proceedings, in March 2016, Castillo knowingly prepared and filed a false Individual Income Tax Return Form 1040 with the IRS for tax year 2015. Castillo’s false Form 1040 included a fraudulently inflated income figure supported by fictitious 1099-MISC forms. Based upon that false filing, the Department of Treasury issued a check to Castillo for $231,590, which he deposited into his bank account. Likewise, Castillo filed a false 2016 Form 1040, wherein he again fraudulently inflated his income and falsely claimed a refund of approximately $272,000. The IRS did not process that form.

This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay G. Trezevant.