Tax preparer admits to massive $2.2M return fraud
A tax preparer has pled guilty in Hartford federal court to preparing and filing hundreds of false tax returns, mostly from fellow church members. He defrauded the government of more than $2.2 million.
From approximately 2009 through 2012, Marcus Fox, 41, of Waterbury, prepared and filed more than 900 tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service on behalf of clients. A number of tax returns that Fox prepared contained false information that resulted in clients receiving substantial refunds to which they were not entitled.
Beginning in approximately 2011, Fox falsified a number of returns in a manner that allowed him to secure a greater payout for himself without his client's' knowledge.
Fox would prepare a client tax return with significant falsified credits or expense deductions, which resulted in a fraudulent claim for a substantial refund. The tax return would be e-filed with the IRS with instructions to split payment of the large refund between the client and Fox, with him receiving a substantial portion of the payment. Fox would also prepare a second tax return, which he never filed, but instead provided to his client to hide the ongoing scheme.
A spokesman said the Department of Justice said it could not comment at this time on how the investigation began.
Fox pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2016, at which time he faces a maximum term of six years. He also has agreed that he owes restitution in the amount of $2,276,837.
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