Loomis Tax Thief Petr Kuzmenko Jailed for 6.5 Years

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Petr Kuzmenko, the Loomis con man who masterminded a tax refund fraud scheme worth nearly $596K, was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison today. The 38-year-old’s criminal enterprise, which involved his brother as a tax preparer at VK Tax Services, saw fraudulent claims for the First-Time Homebuyer Credit totaling $695,724. Kuzmenko and four co-defendants pocketed over half of that amount.

According to court documents, Kuzmenko’s deceitful web was unravelled by a meticulous investigation led by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit. His brother, along with Aleksandr Kuzmenko, Valeriy Nikitchuk, and Arsen Muhtarov, all face varying sentences for their roles in the scheme.

Michael T. Batdorf, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS CI, emphasized the gravity of such crimes: ‘No one is entitled to defraud the government,’ he said. ‘This sentence serves as a stark reminder that those who undermine our tax system will be caught and held accountable.’

Kuzmenko’s prison term runs concurrent with previous convictions for two mortgage fraud cases, tallying a total of 21 years behind bars.

Assistant United States Attorney Michele Beckwith is handling the prosecution of this case. Aleksandr Kuzmenko was sentenced to over two years on October 28, 2016, while Valeriy Nikitchuk has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing on December 16, 2016. Arsen Muhtarov maintains his innocence, with charges against him remaining mere allegations.

The justice system stands firm, ensuring that scammers like Kuzmenko are taught a hard lesson in their own backyard.