Two Tax Return Preparers Indicted

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces the indictments of two tax return preparers, Fane Dacosta (39, Daytona Beach) and Obnes Latigue (50, Orlando). Dacosta has been charged with 25 counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns and 3 counts of failing to file his personal tax returns. Latigue has been charged with 23 counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in federal prison for each count of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, and Dacosta faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison for each count of failing to file his personal tax returns. Dacosta and Latigue were charged in separate indictments on April 10, 2013. They were both arrested yesterday.

According to the indictments, Dacosta and Latigue were involved in preparing tax returns in which they falsified the deduction amounts and tax credits owed to taxpayers, resulting in those taxpayers receiving undeserved tax refunds. For three years, Dacosta also failed to file his personal tax returns, despite having received more than $100,000 in gross income in each year.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

These cases were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.