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Story Update: Georgia Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison After Criminal Tax Conviction

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Story Update: Georgia Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison After Criminal Tax Conviction

 

According to a Department of Justice press release, a Georgia man was recently sentenced to serve 19 years in federal prison after being convicted of multiple counts of filing false tax returns in an attempt to swindle the IRS out of over $100 million. This story should serve as a reminder to anyone who has filed a false tax return (or failed to file a tax return altogether) that the IRS and Department of Justice take intentional / fraudulent tax noncompliance seriously and the long-term repercussions of a criminal tax investigation and conviction will always tremendously outweigh any potential short-term benefit. If you have failed to file a tax return for one or more years, or have taken a position on a filed tax return that could not be substantiated upon an audit, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced dual licensed Tax Defense Attorney & CPA.

Defendant Filed Dozens of False Trust Tax Returns Seeking Fraudulent Refunds

This story serves as an update to our previous coverage of this defendant. If you recall from our prior story, Marquet Mattox, of Athens, Georgia, was convicted by a federal grand jury in 2021 after he filed false tax returns on behalf of several trusts requesting millions of dollars in tax refunds. Federal prosecutors alleged that Mattox filed 30 federal income tax returns on behalf of 11 different trusts. The illegal strategy to obtain false refunds was consistent across the filed returns. Mattox claimed that the trusts were paid interest and such payments were subject to federal income tax withholding. In reality, no federal income taxes were withheld. As a part of his scheme, Mattox requested refunds of more than $165 million. The IRS paid only $5 million in refunds before it became suspicious of the filed tax returns. That is when the Criminal Investigations unit of the IRS and the Department of Justice got involved.

Mattox was sentenced to serve 230 months in federal prison at a recent sentencing hearing. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release to commence upon the completion of his physical incarceration. Lastly, Mattox was ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution to the IRS, representing the tax loss that he caused the IRS.

Coming Into Compliance Before an Eggshell Audit or IRS Criminal Tax Investigation

This story illustrates the serious consequences that can accompany an eggshell audit or criminal tax investigation followed by prosecution. While not all taxpayers who have fallen out of compliance have violated the law in a magnitude like the defendant in the above case, a conviction for tax evasion or filing a false tax return charge can produce similar results.  As a general rule, taxpayers who voluntarily work toward coming into compliance have better outcomes than those who wait to have their noncompliance discovered by tax authorities.

If you have failed to file a tax return on an annual basis or have filed a tax return that you know or have reason to believe is materially incorrect, it is in your best interest to discuss your situation with an experienced tax defense attorney. Together, you and your seasoned tax lawyer will gather the pertinent facts of your case and jointly decide on a strategy moving forward.

We Are Here for You

Regardless of your business or estate needs, the professionals at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing are here for you. We are open for business and our team will help ensure that your business is too. Contact the Law Offices of David W. Klasing today to discuss your business with one of our professionals.

In addition to our main office in Irvine,  the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing has unstaffed (conference room only) satellite offices in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Panorama City, Oxnard, San Diego, Bakersfield, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Carlsbad, and Sacramento.

Our office technology allows clients to meet virtually via GoToMeeting. 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.

Concerned About Criminal Tax Charges? Call the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing

If you are dealing with serious tax matters, you deserve tax assistance that you can rely on. Schedule your first reduced-rate case evaluation with our Criminal Tax Defense Lawyers by calling (800) 681-1295 today or schedule online here.

If you have failed to file a tax return for one or more years or have taken a position on a tax return that could not be supported upon an IRS or state tax authority audit, eggshell audit, reverse eggshell audit, or criminal tax investigation, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced tax defense attorney to determine your best route back into federal or state tax compliance without facing criminal prosecution.

Note:

As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes (potentially including non-filed foreign information returns coupled with affirmative evasion of U.S. income tax on offshore income) self-reports the tax fraud (including a pattern of non-filed returns) through a domestic or offshore voluntary disclosure before the IRS has started an audit or criminal tax investigation / prosecution, the taxpayer can ordinarily be successfully brought back into tax compliance and receive a nearly guaranteed pass on criminal tax prosecution and simultaneously often receive a break on the civil penalties that would otherwise apply.

It is imperative that you hire an experienced and reputable criminal tax defense attorney to take you through the voluntary disclosure process. Only an Attorney has the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Privileges that will prevent the very professional that you hire from being potentially being forced to become a witness against you, especially where they prepared the returns that need to be amended, in a subsequent criminal tax audit, investigation or prosecution.

Moreover, only an Attorney can enter you into a voluntary disclosure without engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (a crime in itself). Only an Attorney trained in Criminal Tax Defense fully understands the risks and rewards involved in voluntary disclosures and how to protect you if you do not qualify for a voluntary disclosure.

As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, Kovel CPAs and EAs, our firm provides a one stop shop to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results that simultaneously protect your liberty and your net worth. See our Testimonials to see what our clients have to say about us!

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