Tax Scam Kingpin

⏱ 2 min read

Michael J. Moore, a Las Vegas man, pleaded guilty to running a tax scam that cost the US over $250,000. Moore, who operated a tax and accounting business called X Tax Pros, targeted clients in the adult entertainment industry, promising them large tax refunds. From August 2025 to October 2025, Moore created fraudulent tax returns, including fake business losses, to get his clients refunds they didn’t deserve. In exchange, he took a cut of the refunds as his fee.

What’s striking about this case is that Moore had already pleaded guilty to a similar scheme in a separate case, which had cost the US at least $3.5 million. While awaiting sentencing, Moore continued to run his scam, using fake identities to avoid detection. His latest scheme lasted just three months, but it still managed to cause a significant tax loss.

Moore’s guilty plea includes charges of wire fraud, aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return, and aggravated identity theft. He faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and three years for aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return. His sentencing is scheduled for July 16.

The case highlights the ongoing problem of tax fraud in the US, particularly among those who target vulnerable industries like adult entertainment. It also shows the lengths to which scammers will go to avoid detection, including using fake identities and continuing to operate even after being caught.