Kenneth L. Barber, Wire Fraud, Florida 2013

TALLAHASSEE - A local tax preparer has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a wide-reaching tax refund fraud scheme.

Kenneth L. Barber, 62, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced today in federal court to serve 87 months in prison on charges of wire fraud, preparing false tax returns, making a false statement to a bank, and conspiracy to commit tax fraud.

The crimes were committed at Barber's local tax preparation business, where he trained employees on how to falsify clients' tax returns to increase refunds and limit tax due to the IRS. According to court documents, Barber's employees filed returns falsifying income, deductions, credits, dependents, and filing status to obtain inflated tax refunds.

The government presented evidence at Barber's three-day trial in April 2013, including testimony from his former employees and a government expert witness. The expert witness testified that the tax scheme resulted in a loss of more than $700,000.

In addition to his prison sentence, Barber was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay restitution. The exact amount of restitution will be determined at a later date.

Barber's co-defendants, Shavita Altrecia Davis and Anthony Tyree Barber, were also sentenced to prison time. Davis was sentenced to 24 months, while Anthony Barber was sentenced to six months in prison and six months of home detention.

“IRS Criminal Investigation takes tax refund fraud seriously and criminal violations have serious consequences,” said James D. Robnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation.

The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Pamela C. Marsh, praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service, whose investigation led to the convictions in the case.

“The U.S. will continue to aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who defraud the public, engage in illegal schemes, abuse positions of trust, and willfully undermine the entire tax system,” Marsh said.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Winifred Acosta NeSmith.

Barber was sentenced by United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.

The crime was committed on April 10, 2013, in Tallahassee, Florida. Barber was sentenced on [Sentencing Date] in federal court in Tallahassee, Florida.

The defendant's real full name is Kenneth L. Barber. The exact criminal charges include wire fraud, preparing false tax returns, making a false statement to a bank, and conspiracy to commit tax fraud.

The dollar amounts involved in the scheme include a loss of more than $700,000 and loans totaling more than $300,000.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/tallahassee-resident-sentenced-87-months-federal-prison