Atlanta tax preparer charged with filing fraudulent tax returns

ATLANTA - Jean Samuel Gai has been arraigned on federal charges of aiding the filing of a false tax return.  At the time, Gai was on probation in Georgia for similar tax-related offenses.

“At a time when he was already on probation for a prior tax-related charge, Gai’s allegedly returned to filing false tax returns,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine.  “It is important to check a tax professional’s background before engaging him or her to assist with filing any tax returns.”

“Often in these types of schemes, the taxpayers fall victim to leaning on the trust of their return preparers,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey.  “The charges in this case show our seriousness in holding return preparers accountable for abusing their trusted positions to fraudulently gain more client funds.  Taxpayers are strongly encouraged to review their return and ask questions in order to avoid falling victim to dishonest return preparers.”

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges, and other information presented in court: Gai owned and operated N.C.E. Financial Services Incorporated, a tax return business that had two locations: one in Atlanta, Georgia and the other in Riverdale, Georgia. For the 2014 through 2018 tax years, Gai prepared and filed false income tax returns for his clients that allegedly claimed false Schedule C items, false W-2 wages, and false earned income tax credits to obtain refunds that his clients were not entitled to. Gai then allegedly kept most of the fraudulent refunds for his own use. The total loss associated with Gai’s fraud is estimated at more than $600,000.

In November 2013, Gai was convicted of first-degree forgery related to stealing and cashing tax refund checks issued by the State of Georgia. Gai was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for that offense and thus was on probation at the time he allegedly committed the current federal offenses.

Jean Samuel Gai, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arraigned on April 6, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas.  Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Phillips is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.