Albuquerque tax preparer charged with fraudulent returns

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Solomon Gbara, 47, of Albuquerque, was arraigned in federal court today, on a 13-count indictment for aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent income tax returns. A federal grand jury indicted Gbara on March 12.

            According to the indictment, from Feb. 10, 2015, through March 13, 2017, Gbara allegedly assisted in the preparation and presentation of individual income tax returns (IRS Form 1040) that included claims Gbara knew were false. These misrepresentations included claims for dependents and Schedule C businesses to which the taxpayers were not entitled under the provisions of internal revenue laws.

            If convicted, Gbara faces a sentence of up to three years in prison for each count of the indictment. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

            IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña is prosecuting the case.