A New Haven man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a tax fraud scheme that netted him and others thousands of dollars in false refunds.
Willie E. McKAY, 41, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven on Tuesday to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns.
McKAY was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and $9,693 in restitution to the IRS.
According to court documents, McKAY was the pastor of The Love Temple Church, Inc. in West Haven from 2005 to 2008 and provided income tax preparation services to his congregation.
In February 2007, McKAY prepared and electronically filed a fraudulent individual U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for a member of his congregation, listing the church’s address as the taxpayer’s home address and claiming fictitious wages and withholdings.
The false return listed wages of $47,900 from the State of Connecticut, withholdings of $14,952, and Schedule A deductions for state taxes of $4,359 and personal property tax of $852.
Based on the false claim, the IRS issued a refund check in the amount of $9,693, which was more than 25 times the actual amount the taxpayer was entitled to.
McKAY had a prior conviction for wire fraud and had served a 10-month prison term in May 2000.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the assistance of the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Hartford Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed prosecuted the case.
McKAY was released on bond and is scheduled to report to prison on March 31, 2016.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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