Jacksonville Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud
Thomas Bandzul, 71, a tax return preparer from Jacksonville, Florida, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to a statement from United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III. This guilty plea could land Bandzul in federal prison for up to 20 years.
Bandzul is set to appear in court on January 13, 2015, before Senior United States District Judge Henry Lee Adams, Jr. He was initially indicted on January 30, 2014, on charges stemming from a scheme to defraud the IRS.
According to court documents, from January 2008 through May 2011, Bandzul knowingly and willfully made false claims for deductions and credits on 32 tax returns on behalf of his clients, resulting in additional tax refunds from the IRS. As part of the scheme, Bandzul would prepare and furnish one version of a tax return to his clients, only to make false and fraudulent claims on a separate tax return, which he then electronically filed with the IRS. In many cases, Bandzul caused the additional higher tax refunds to be paid to him without his clients’ knowledge or consent.
Furthermore, Bandzul committed tax fraud on his individual federal tax returns for 2008 and 2009. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dale R. Campion.
The guilty plea brings to light the severity of tax-related crimes and the importance of vigilance in ensuring the integrity of the tax system. The IRS relies on honest tax preparers to provide accurate information, making Bandzul’s actions all the more egregious. As the investigation continues, it is clear that the consequences of such actions can be severe and far-reaching.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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