Charles W. Parker, Jr. Tax Scheme, Maryland 2015

Greenbelt, Maryland – In a brazen scheme to swindle millions from the U.S. government, Charles W. Parker, Jr., a 49-year-old resident of College Park, Maryland, was slapped with an 8.1-year prison sentence for conspiring to file false federal income tax returns and six counts of filing false tax returns.

A federal jury found Parker guilty on November 10, 2015, after a five-day trial revealed the extent of his involvement in the $7 million tax refund scam. Parker’s co-conspirator, Penny Jones, an Idaho resident and tax return preparer, prepared false tax returns that reported inflated tax withholdings and payments to the IRS. Parker, meanwhile, collected financial information from clients and handed it over to Jones for the preparation of the fake tax returns.

Parker paid Jones to prepare false tax returns for himself and others, which he then mailed to the IRS for tax years 2005 to 2008, claiming large tax refunds that the taxpayers were not entitled to. In a six-month period, Parker caused the filing of 14 false tax returns that fraudulently claimed $7,753,940 in tax refunds.

Parker’s scheme paid off, as the IRS issued two fraudulent tax refunds totaling $2,007,568. Coincidentally, Jones, Parker’s co-conspirator, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2013 for her role in a separate scheme to help individuals Obtain fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS.

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Tax Division and IRS-Criminal Investigation for their tireless work in bringing Parker to justice. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Jo Bressack and Trial Attorney Erin Pulice for their dedication in prosecuting the case.

In addition to his prison sentence, Parker was ordered to forfeit and pay restitution of $2,007,568. This sentence serves as a stark reminder that those who attempt to cheat the system will face severe consequences.

Charles W. Parker, Jr.’s story is a cautionary tale of greed and deception. His sentence is a testament to the enduring commitment of law enforcement to root out white-collar crime and bring perpetrators to justice.

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