Kenia Marrero, Tax Return Preparer Fraud, Florida 2023

A devastating blow to tax honesty has been dealt in South Florida, as a federal court has permanently barred Kenia Marrero of Miami, and her company, Kenia Immigration Services, from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.

The civil injunction order, to which Marrero consented without admitting the allegations against her, was signed by Judge José E. Martinez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. This crippling decision was made on an undisclosed date.

According to the complaint, Marrero prepared federal income tax returns for customers that fraudulently understated their tax liabilities by using fabricated deductions, business expenses, and first-time-homebuyer credits. The complaint alleged that Marrero offered immigration services, including obtaining work permits and visas, and used that customer base to obtain tax-preparation customers.

The Internal Revenue Service lists return preparer fraud as one of the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012. In the past decade, the Justice Division has obtained hundreds of injunctions to stop the promotion of tax-fraud schemes and the preparation of fraudulent returns. More information about these cases is available on the Justice website.

Marrero’s malicious actions resulted in a staggering $1.4 million in harm to the United States, leaving a trail of deceit and financial ruin in her wake. Taxpayers are left wondering how such a brazen scheme was able to operate for so long.

The Justice Division’s efforts to combat tax return preparer fraud are a step in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to prevent such schemes from arising in the future. The public must remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

Kenia Marrero and Kenia Immigration Services have been dealt a severe blow, and their ability to prepare federal tax returns has been permanently revoked. The full extent of their culpability remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: they will never be able to operate as tax preparers again.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Kenia Marrero, Crime: Tax Return Preparer Fraud, City: Miami, State: Florida, Date: undisclosed, Sentence: Permanent bar from preparing federal tax returns, Fine: none, Dollar Amount: $1.4 million in harm to the United States.

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