Las Vegas Tax Preparer Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Filing False Tax Returns

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas tax return preparer who falsified his own tax returns as well as those of his clients was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Acting IRS Special Agent in Charge (Criminal Investigation) Ismael J. Nevarez Jr.

According to documents and information provided to the court, for tax years 2013 through 2016, Rosalio Amezcua Alcantar, 67, willfully underreported his taxable income while operating his tax return preparation business, Direct Services Group, in Las Vegas, Nevada. By falsely reporting less revenue than he earned and by claiming business expenses that were either fictitious or impermissible, Alcantar underreported his taxable income by more than $140,000 over the course of four years.

As part of the plea agreement, Alcantar also admitted that, in his capacity as a tax preparer, he purposely and fraudulently claimed charitable contribution and business expense deductions to which his clients were not entitled. As a result of false returns he filed on behalf of his clients, Alcantar caused more than $200,000 in tax loss. Alcantar further admitted that he also misrepresented his income to the Social Security Administration to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits for himself and his daughter.

At the time Alcantar committed these acts, he was serving a three-year term of supervised release imposed after his federal conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan ordered Alcantar to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution of $62,597.40 to the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.