Tax Pro Accused of $150K Refund Scam

KEWASKUM, WI – Robert F. Spoerl, 69, of Campbellsport, Wisconsin, is facing a mountain of federal charges after allegedly running a years-long tax fraud scheme out of his Kewaskum business, J&R Tax Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin unsealed a 28-count indictment detailing a brazen attempt to steal over $150,000 from the federal government.

According to the indictment, Spoerl allegedly assisted in the filing of false federal income tax returns, submitting bogus claims for tax credits, deductions, and dependents. But the twist? Spoerl provided his unsuspecting clients with accurate copies of their returns – the ones he never actually filed. Instead, he filed the fraudulent versions, diverting the ill-gotten gains to his own pockets while paying out the legitimate refund amounts to his clients, masking the scam.

The scheme, allegedly carried out between 2011 and 2015, involved more than 100 false returns. The indictment lays out 10 counts of assisting in the filing of false returns, a staggering 16 counts of theft of government money through false claims, and two counts of aggravated identity theft – a serious charge that carries a hefty mandatory minimum sentence. Spoerl allegedly used his clients’ personal information to perpetrate the fraud, adding insult to injury.

If convicted on all counts, Spoerl is looking at a minimum of two years behind bars, and potentially much longer. Each false tax return charge carries a maximum sentence of three years, while the theft of government property charges could land him up to ten years per count. A fine of up to $250,000 also looms large. This isn’t a slap on the wrist – it’s a serious federal case with potentially devastating consequences for the accused.

The investigation was spearheaded by special agents with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, demonstrating the IRS’s continued commitment to cracking down on tax fraud. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew L. Jacobs has been assigned to prosecute the case, meaning the government is prepared to aggressively pursue a conviction. Spoerl is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Milwaukee on March 15, 2017.

It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is not proof of guilt. Spoerl is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. But the evidence, as outlined in the indictment, paints a damning picture of a calculated and cynical scheme to defraud both the government and Spoerl’s own clients. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it develops.

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