Man Convicted of Filing False Tax Return

HOUSTON – A local man has entered a guilty plea to filing false joint 2015 tax return, admitting he falsely claimed a tax refund of more than $15,000, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick along with Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Kull of IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI).

According to the plea agreement filed in the record of the case, Christopher Hatton falsely inflated the amount of federal income tax withholdings and unreimbursed employee expenses claimed on his joint 2015 income tax return. The inflations were more than $38,000 each in withholdings and unreimbursed employee expenses.

Hatton’s tax return claimed a false income tax refund of in excess of $15,000 when he actually owed more than $18,000 in income taxes for the year. 

The plea agreement further states when audited, Hatton provided an altered form W-2 and altered bank statements to support the false amounts claimed on his 2015 tax return. Hatton further admitted he also filed tax returns for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016, claiming false items.

The plea agreement further indicates the total tax loss Hatton caused the IRS was in excess of $126,000.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas accepted the guilty plea and has sentencing for July 17, 2019. At that time, Hatton faces up to three years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.     

IRS-CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Escher is prosecuted the case.