Ocala, Florida – In a brazen scheme that left nearly a million dollars in losses, Ocala tax preparer Steven Cabrera has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for his role in preparing and submitting false tax documents, as well as willfully failing to file tax returns.
Cabrera, who worked as a tax preparer in the Ocala area, was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas Barber on August 16, 2024. According to court documents, Cabrera engaged in widespread tax fraud from 2017 to 2019, adding unauthorized and fraudulent deductions and credits to his clients’ tax returns without their knowledge and embezzling the additional tax return proceeds for his own use.
In a particularly egregious example of Cabrera’s deceit, he would instruct clients to make out checks to “IRS” and promise to send the funds to the IRS himself. Instead, he deposited those checks into an account he controlled for a fictitious business, “International Resort Services.”
“It’s certainly a bold move to invoke the name of the ‘IRS’ when attempting to defraud not only the government, but people who are putting their trust in you,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “The real ‘IRS’ is always going to show up, investigate, and put a stop to these types of scams.”
As a result of Cabrera’s years of fraudulent activity, his clients suffered total losses of nearly $1 million.
Cabrera entered a guilty plea on August 16, 2024, and was subsequently sentenced by Judge Barber. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.
The IRS is urging anyone who suspects tax fraud by a return preparer to visit IRS.gov and click on the ‘Get your tax record’ button. From there, individuals can verify the accuracy of the information on their tax record and report any fraudulent or inaccurate information.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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