Las Vegas Tax Pro Accused of Massive Fraud Scheme

LAS VEGAS – Jessica Avras, a Las Vegas woman running a local tax preparation business, is facing federal charges for what authorities are calling a systematic and brazen scheme to defraud the U.S. government. A federal grand jury handed down an indictment today, alleging Avras knowingly prepared and filed false income tax returns for her clients over a five-year period.

According to the indictment, from 2015 through 2020, Avras allegedly built her business on a foundation of lies. She’s accused of routinely fabricating entire businesses on her clients’ returns, claiming substantial losses where none existed. The goal? To slash their tax liability and inflate their refunds – all at the expense of honest taxpayers. The scheme wasn’t limited to phantom businesses; Avras also allegedly concocted fake deductions, including bogus charitable contributions, inflated sales taxes, and unsubstantiated employee expenses.

The indictment lays out a staggering 31 counts of assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, a violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). Each count carries a potential sentence of up to three years in federal prison. While an indictment is not proof of guilt, the sheer volume of charges suggests the scope of the alleged fraud was significant.

“This wasn’t a case of simple errors,” said a source close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This was a deliberate and calculated effort to cheat the system, and the Department of Justice is taking it very seriously.” The case is being spearheaded by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada.

Avras is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on Feb. 22, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. The ultimate sentence, if convicted, will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors. The IRS-Criminal Investigation division is handling the investigation.

Prosecutors Thomas Flynn and Samuel Robins of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, alongside Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale of the District of Nevada, are building the case against Avras. It’s a reminder that while tax season may seem mundane, the consequences of fraud can be severe. Remember, an indictment is merely an allegation, and Avras, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

RELATED: NV Woman Swindled $596K in COVID Loans, Bought a Benz

RELATED: NV Man Scammed $1.1M in COVID Funds