Las Vegas Man Sentenced for Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

A Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a tax refund fraud scheme that bilked the government out of thousands of dollars in refunds.

Damon Boswell, 36, of Las Vegas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to submit false federal income tax returns in federal court. Boswell’s scheme involved obtaining personal identifying information from individuals by falsely telling them that if they had not filed their 2008 federal income tax returns and did not owe back taxes, they were entitled to receive ‘Obama Stimulus’ money.

According to court documents, Boswell and co-conspirator Cheryl Ramos, who pleaded guilty in January 2013, conspired to defraud the United States by assisting in the filing of federal tax returns that falsely claimed refunds based on the First-Time Home Buyers Credit. The scheme occurred between April and May 2009.

Boswell used the personal information, including names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, to file federal income tax returns for tax year 2008 claiming refunds to which the individuals were not entitled. The individuals did not authorize Boswell or anyone else to file or cause the filing of these tax returns in their names.

Boswell retained up to 71 percent of the proceeds as a ‘fee’ for arranging taxpayers’ receipt of the money. He faces a statutory potential maximum prison term of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2014.

Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally and U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Brown and Trial Attorney Sonia M. Owens for the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.

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