Markeith Smith, False Tax Return Preparer, Georgia 2018

Ashburn, Georgia resident Markeith L. Smith, 36, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in filing false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

On July 25, 2018, Smith was sentenced by the Honorable Leslie J. Abrams, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia, in Albany.

Smith previously pled guilty to wire fraud based on filing false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

According to Smith's plea agreement, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered identifying information for approximately 121 people and approximately 40 TurboTax or GreenDot cards in the names of people who did not reside at Smith's address.

IRS officials analyzed the identifying information and determined that approximately 352 false tax returns had been filed using that information, claiming refunds totaling over one million dollars, of which actual refunds were issued totaling $518,145.

'Protecting taxpayer money and protecting innocent Americans from identity theft are top priorities of the United States Attorney's Office,' said United States Attorney Charles E. Peeler. 'I would like to thank the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service and the Turner County Sheriff's Office for bringing this defendant to justice.'

Smith's email user ID was used to file many of those returns. All people interviewed by IRS investigators whose personal identifying information was found at Smith's house stated that they were victims of identity theft, the returns filed in their names were fraudulent, they had received no refunds from those returns, and they had not authorized Smith to file returns on their behalf.

Smith was also ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $518,145.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/ashburn-false-tax-return-preparer-sentenced