Hugo Jean Joseph, Filing False Tax Returns, Florida 2008

Grimy Times has learned that a Broward County tax preparer has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for preparing false tax returns. Hugo Jean Joseph, 60, of Coral Springs, was previously convicted at trial of eleven counts of preparing false tax returns for his clients.

According to court documents, Jean Joseph and co-defendant Guencia Piard a/k/a Guencia Toussaint operated Lakay Multi Services (LMS), a tax return service with locations in Pompano Beach, Naples and Fort Myers, Florida. Jean Joseph and Piard prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns on behalf of their customers during the 2006 to 2008 tax years by using false Schedule A deductions, false Schedule C expenses, false education expenses, and false credits for federal fuel tax without their clients’ knowledge or consent.

By inflating their clients’ deductions, expenses, education credits, and fuel tax credits, Jean Joseph and Piard attained higher tax refunds for their clients which attracted a greater volume of clients. Jean Joseph and Piard kept a portion of the fraudulently inflated tax refunds as payment for their services.

The total tax loss to the IRS was $283,834, and Jean Joseph was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $58,626. Co-defendant Piard was sentenced on August 7, 2014 to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $283,834.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurence M. Bardfeld. Hugo Jean Joseph, 60, of Coral Springs, was previously convicted at trial of eleven counts of preparing false tax returns for his clients.

Hugo Jean Joseph, a Broward County tax preparer, was sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $58,626. The crime occurred from 2006 to 2008. Hugo Jean Joseph, 60, of Coral Springs, was convicted of eleven counts of preparing false tax returns for his clients.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement. Hugo Jean Joseph, 60, of Coral Springs, was previously convicted at trial of eleven counts of preparing false tax returns for his clients.

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