Call Now (800) 681-1295
Close

Louisiana Man Convicted on Fraud Charges After Investigation by IRS and Postal Service

Table of Contents

    Many taxpayers believe that the IRS is too understaffed and underfunded to seriously pursue those who commit tax crimes. Although the Service has seen times with larger budgets, government agencies, such as the IRS, rely on other government entities to provide leads on potential criminal activity. In this case, the U.S. postal service was helpful in delivering a lead to the IRS that resulted in a prosecution, conviction, and lengthy prison sentence.

    See our Criminal Tax Law Q and A Library 

    According to a Department of Justice press release, Ronald Reeves, of Delhi, Louisiana, was sentenced to serve 41 months in a federal prison for a mail theft scheme that resulted in multiple federal agencies, including the IRS, working together. According to court documents, Reeves admitted to conspiring with others to steal mail from the rightful recipients with the intent to obtain identifying information, checks, and credit cards from the theft victims. 

     

    Group Stole IRS Refund Checks, Convicted and Sentenced

    Between 2014 and 2017, Reeves and his associates opened and maintained multiple bank accounts that were used to deposit checks that were stolen as a part of their mail theft operation. Many of the checks were refund checks made out to taxpayers from U.S. Treasury. Federal refunds that were stolen as a part of the illegal activity totaled more than $247,888. The scheme also resulted in nearly 300 credit and prepaid cards being stolen. The conspiracy attempted to steal more than $400,000 in total over its life. 

    In addition to serving his time in federal prison, Reeves was sentenced to three years of supervised release to begin as soon as his physical incarceration ends. Finally, Reeves was ordered to pay back more than $86,000 in restitution. 

    This story is a reminder that just because the IRS may not be running at its full capability, the federal government and its agencies work together to secure convictions for tax-related crimes. The IRS and its Criminal Investigations unit frequently works with the FBI and other criminal divisions of the Department of Justice. If you are involved in any criminal activity, you may find yourself under the microscope of the IRS, in addition to the appropriate federal law enforcement authority. 

     

    The Importance of a Criminal Tax Defense Attorney

    If you have failed to file tax returns, are behind on your tax payments, or believe that your filed tax returns may be inaccurate, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced tax defense attorney. Many taxpayers believe that they will never get caught or that if the IRS does initiate an examination or an investigation, that they can go at it alone and outsmart the Service and its professional investigators. An experienced tax defense lawyer will provide not only the technical tax advice required to successfully defend against an audit or investigation, but will also provide valuable insights surrounding IRS or state taxing authority procedure. 

     

    Contact an Experienced Tax Attorney Today

    The tax and accounting professionals at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing have extensive experience representing taxpayers from all walks of life. Whether you are a business owner facing a sales and use tax audit or you have received notice that your individual return is being examined, our team of zealous advocates are standing by to help you develop a sound legal strategy that will keep your personal and financial interests at the forefront of importance. Do not lose sleep over the possibility of tax evasion or other tax-related charges from the IRS or state taxing authorities. Contact the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing today for a reduced-rate consultation.  

    Here is a link to our YouTube channel: click here!

    See our Sales Tax Q and A library

    See our Audit Representation Q and A Library 

    In addition to our staffed main offices in Irvine,  the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing has unstaffed (conference room only) satellite offices in Los Angeles, San BernardinoSanta BarbaraPanorama CityOxnardSan DiegoBakersfieldSan Jose, San FranciscoOakland, Carlsbad and Sacramento.

     

    Note: If you have concerns about the privacy of our initial or subsequent communication and are unable to easily travel to our Irvine / Orange County Main Office, consider scheduling a GoToMeeting to safely and securely establish an initial or maintain an existing attorney client relationship.  With end-to-end encryption, strong passwords and top-rated reliability, no one is messing with your meeting. To schedule a reduced rate initial consultation via GoToMeeting follow this link.   Call our office and request a GoToMeeting if you are an existing client. We are generally happy to travel to any of our appointment only satellite offices for a subsequent meeting in appropriate circumstances once a relationship is established via a signed engagement letter and the payment of an initial retainer or where enough retainer is available where a current client to cover the reasonable travel time and time required for the meeting. Will it cost me more to hire the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, who’s main office and the vast majority of the firm’s staff is located in Irvine California, but an appointment only Satellite office is close to my location, as opposed to a local company?  Absolutely not!  See our policies that address this issue here

    Tax Help Videos

    Representing Clients from U.S. and International Locations Regarding Federal and California Tax Issues

    tax lawyers

    Main Office

    Orange County
    2601 Main St. Penthouse Suite
    Irvine, CA 92614
    (949) 681-3502

    Our headquarters is located in Irvine, CA. Our beautiful 19,700 office space is staffed full-time and always available for our clients to meet with our highly qualified and experienced staff of Attorneys, Certified Public Accountants and Enrolled Agents. We also offer virtual consultations and can travel to meet with clients in one of our satellite offices.

    Outside of our 4 hour initial consultation option, we do not charge travel time or travel expenses when traveling to one of our Satellite offices, or surrounding business districts, where it is necessary to meet personally with taxing authority personnel, make court appearances, or any in person meeting deemed necessary for the effective representation of a client. To make this as flexible, efficient, and convenient as possible, David W. Klasing is an Instrument Rated Private Pilot and Utilizes the Firms Cirrus SR22 to service client’s in California and in the Southwest by air. Offices outside these areas are serviced via commercial jet airlines. None of these costs are charged to our clients.

    Satellite Offices

    California
    (310) 492-5583
    (760) 338-7035
    (916) 290-6625
    (415) 287-6568
    (909) 991-7557
    (619) 780-2538
    (661) 432-1480
    (818) 935-6098
    (805) 200-4053
    (510) 764-1020
    (408) 643-0573
    (760) 338-7035
    Arizona
    (602) 975-0296
    New Mexico
    (505) 206-5308
    New York
    (332) 224-8515
    Texas
    (512) 828-6646
    Washington, DC
    (202) 918-9329
    Nevada
    (702) 997-6465
    Florida
    (786) 999-8406
    Utah
    (385) 501-5934