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Daytona Beach Tax Preparer Convicted of Tax Offenses
A federal jury has found Fane Dacosta (40, Daytona Beach) guilty of twenty-five counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, and three counts of failure to file his personal tax returns. The jury delivered the verdict in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
At the center of the case is Dacosta’s tax preparation business, More Than Enaf Refund & Affordable Tax Services, in Holly Hill. According to evidence presented at trial, for the tax years of 2006 through 2009, Dacosta falsified deductions and tax credits for clients, resulting in undeserved tax refunds. Taxpayers received over $500,000 in refunds, despite never being owed the money.
The scheme involved Dacosta fraudulently claiming education credits for clients who never attended college and inflating itemized deductions. He failed to file his personal tax returns in 2007, 2008, and 2009, despite earning over $100,000, $200,000, and $300,000 in each of those years, respectively.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Dacosta faces a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment for each count of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns and one year in federal prison for each count of failing to file a personal tax return.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 24, 2014. The full extent of the damages and the total amount of undeserved refunds issued by the Internal Revenue Service has yet to be determined.
Dacosta’s actions not only put a strain on the tax system but also left many individuals with a false sense of security, thinking they owed less in taxes than they actually did. This case is a stark reminder of the importance of honest and trustworthy tax preparation services.
The guilty verdict is a significant victory for the Internal Revenue Service and law enforcement agencies working tirelessly to combat tax-related crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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