A Berlin man has admitted to running a sham tax preparation business where he systematically falsified client returns to inflate refunds. Gelin Sterling, 31, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, capping a years-long scheme that exploited the trust of unsuspecting taxpayers.
Sterling, owner of Sterling Tax Plus, LLC, used his business as a front to fabricate deductions between 2014 and 2017. According to court documents, he routinely inserted false mileage claims, invented charitable donations, and manipulated income figures on numerous returns. The fraud allowed clients to claim unwarranted refunds, but left them vulnerable to audits, penalties, and legal fallout once the truth emerged.
U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley, presiding in Bridgeport, scheduled sentencing for August 5, 2019. Sterling now faces a maximum of three years in federal prison. He has been released on a $100,000 bond as he awaits sentencing, but his freedom hangs on the outcome of the final hearing.
As part of his plea agreement, Sterling has agreed to pay $250,000 in restitution to the IRS. That figure may drop as his former clients correct their filings and settle their own tax liabilities. But the damage is far-reaching—many victims now face the costly and stressful process of amending returns they believed were legitimate.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Federal prosecutors say the collaboration helped uncover the breadth of Sterling’s operation, which masqueraded as a legitimate small business while committing widespread financial fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia is prosecuting the case. Authorities warn that tax fraud isn’t a victimless crime—Sterling’s actions jeopardized clients, defrauded the government, and undermined the integrity of the tax system. Now, he’ll answer for it in court.
Related Federal Cases
- Regan Tippett Charged with Filing False Tax Returns · Connecticut
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- Fairfield Landscaper Donald Biagi Jr. Cops to Tax Evasion · Connecticut
- Ewart Henry Guilty of False Citizenship Claim · Connecticut
- Craig Francis Pleads Guilty to $255K Tax Fraud · Virginia
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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