Miami, Florida – A Miami-Dade County man has been sentenced to prison for preparing false tax returns, netting his clients inflated federal refunds.
On January 6, Juan Mendieta was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in October 2024 to one count of criminal conspiracy and four counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns.
Beginning in 2019 and continuing through at least 2023, Mendieta conspired with others to prepare fraudulent tax returns for his clients by using false business losses and expenses.
These false items resulted in inflated federal tax refunds. For multiple clients, Mendieta prepared two different sets of tax returns. One set directed certain refunds from the IRS to Mendieta’s clients. Mendieta provided this set to his clients and misrepresented to them that he would file these tax returns with the IRS.
Instead, Mendieta filed a second set of tax returns, which directed even greater refunds to bank accounts that he and a co-conspirator controlled.
The IRS has identified at least 29 tax filings that fraudulently inflated refunds, which Mendieta filed on behalf of at least 13 separate clients during the conspiracy period. As a result of Mendieta’s fraudulent conduct, the IRS is entitled to over $11 million in restitution.
Mendieta’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. IRS-CI Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Koffsky and Katherine Guthrie prosecuted this case.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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