ORLANDO, FL – A despicable Ocoee man has been locked up for three years after his greedy scheme to bilk the U.S. government out of millions was exposed. James Fednor Meristin, a former tax preparer, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States. The judge also ordered Meristin to cough up $2,338,675 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to court documents, Meristin and his cronies ran a fraudulent tax preparation business called Kings and Queens Multi Services from 2019 until 2023. They prepared and filed phony tax returns for their clients, using COVID-related sick and family leave credits as a ruse to inflate refunds. This scam netted them exorbitant fees, up to $20,000 per return.
Meristin’s own tax returns were no exception, as he admitted to including deficiencies and fraudulent items. The IRS’s Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker had this to say: ‘Filing false tax returns is stealing from the U.S. government. Whether it’s a taxpayer or a tax preparer defrauding the government, IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue pursuing and holding accountable individuals who violate our tax system.’
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation unit, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. Sowell.
Meristin’s guilty plea on May 6, 2025, marks the end of a long-running con that fleeced hardworking taxpayers out of their rightful refunds. The grim truth behind this case serves as a stark reminder to all tax preparers: integrity in your work is non-negotiable.
Related Federal Cases
- New Smyrna Gunrunner Carter Gets 51 Months · Florida
- Todd Gets 19+ Years for Sickening Child Porn Collection · Florida
- Rochester Crack & Heroin Kingpin Gets 10 Years · New York
- Fort Myers Pedophile Gets 20-Year Sentence For Child Pornography · Florida
- Ung Gets 15 Years for Seattle Firebombing Over $20K Debt · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News