Christopher Eugene Guilford, Filing False Tax Returns, California 2025
A former Sacramento man has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for filing false tax returns and stealing over $1.17 million in refunds, federal authorities announced today.
Christopher Eugene Guilford, 54, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for making a false claim against the United States and filing eight counts of false tax returns, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
The charges against Guilford stem from his use of a convoluted 'redemption' scheme, used by tax protestors and sovereign citizens that has been repeatedly rejected by the courts.
On Oct. 30, 2025, a jury found Guilford guilty of one count of making a false claim against the United States and eight counts of filing a false tax return. Guilford had filed nine false tax returns with the IRS in which he reported false income and false tax withholdings.
For one of the tax return filings, Guilford received a refund of $1,172,446. The 'redemption' scheme involves fabricating income, falsifying withholdings, and seeking illegitimate refunds, which undermines the integrity of programs designed to serve honest taxpayers.
'Filing false tax returns is not a shortcut to easy money; it's a federal crime,' U.S. Attorney Grant said. 'By submitting nine fraudulent returns and stealing more than $1.17 million in refunds, the defendant tried to cheat the American taxpayer. Today's sentence shows that those who abuse our tax system for personal gain will be held accountable.'
The investigation was conducted by the IRS-CI, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany M. Gunter and Arelis M. Clemente prosecuted the case.
Christopher Eugene Guilford, the defendant, was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison. The exact date of the sentencing was not mentioned in the source.
The crime occurred when Guilford filed nine false tax returns with the IRS in which he reported false income and false tax withholdings.
The total amount of refunds stolen by Guilford is over $1.17 million.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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