Las Vegas Tax Return Preparer Indicted for Preparing False Tax Returns, Aggravated Identity Theft and Wire Fraud

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - A grand jury in Las Vegas returned a superseding indictment today charging a tax return preparer with preparing and filing false tax returns, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, United States Attorney Nicholas Trutanich for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS-Criminal Investigation.

According to the indictment, King Isaac Umoren, was the owner and operator of Universal Tax Services, a Las Vegas tax preparation business. From 2014 to 2016, Umoren allegedly used his employees’ preparer tax identification numbers without their consent in order to prepare fraudulent income tax returns for his clients. The indictment also alleges that Umoren charged his clients hidden fees in addition to his tax preparation fee without their knowledge or consent.

If convicted, Umoren faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each of the false return counts, a maximum sentence of 20 years on each of the wire fraud counts, and a statutory mandatory sentence of two years on each of the aggravated identity theft counts. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and United States Attorney Trutanich commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Sarah Kiewlicz and Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Burns, who are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website at www.justice.gov/tax.

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