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Press Release

Dallas Tax Return Preparer Admits Preparing Fraudulent Tax Returns

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas

Defendant Was a Fugitive for Six Years

DALLAS — A Dallas-area tax return preparer who was indicted in 2007 on federal felony charges stemming from the operation of that business and who remained a fugitive until November 2013, pleaded guilty in federal court in Dallas today, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Ousmane Sow pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return.  He faces maximum statutory penalty of three years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution.  A sentencing date was not set.

According to the factual resume filed in the case, from 2003 to 2005, Sow and co-defendant Tichafara Mpariwa provided tax preparation services through a business they jointly owned and operated under the name of DSL Tax Services, LLC., located on Forest Lane in Dallas.  In 2004, Sow opened a second location of DSL on Airport Freeway in Irving, Texas.  Both Sow and Mpariwa were the Electronic Return Originators at the Dallas and Irving office locations of DSL.

From 2003 to 2005, according to the factual resume, Sow knowingly prepared and caused to be filed U.S. individual tax returns, along with supporting schedules and forms, which contained materially false credits and deductions to fraudulently increase the taxpayer clients’ refunds.  This included the use of false business expenses and the use of false education expenses to create a false education credit, thus increasing the taxpayer client’s refund.

Defendant Mpariwa remains a fugitive.

Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation.  The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security assisted in securing the return of Sow to the U.S.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Stokes is in charge of the prosecution.

Updated June 22, 2015