Marcelino Almaraz, Filing False Tax Return, Kansas 2010

A Kansas Tax Return Preparer’s Web of Deceit Unravels

Marcelino Almaraz, a tax return preparer from Holcomb, Kansas, has been handed a 21-month prison sentence for filing a fraudulent income tax return and aiding and assisting in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Stephen R. McAllister for the District of Kansas.

According to documents and information provided to the court, Almaraz owned Accounting Services, a business that provided tax preparation services. He fraudulently sought to obtain refunds for individuals by including false filing statuses such as head of household and adding phony dependents in an effort to trigger and inflate child tax credits.

Almaraz also falsified his own income tax returns for 2010 and 2011 by underreporting his income.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Julie A. Robinson ordered Almaraz to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $397,552 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

The investigation into Almaraz’s activities was a joint effort between the IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s office. Special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation, while Tax Division Trial Attorney John T. Mulcahy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble prosecuted the case.

As a result of his crimes, Almaraz will have to answer to the consequences of his actions. His sentence serves as a reminder that tax evasion and fraud will be taken seriously in our justice system.

Almaraz’s actions not only hurt individuals but also undermined the integrity of our tax system. His sentence should serve as a warning to those who would attempt to cheat the system.