⏱ 2 min read
Two North Texas men have been caught in a web of deceit, accused of running a tax refund fraud scheme that bilked the government out of thousands. Terrance Hatley, 33, and Jason Pogue, 45, allegedly used Hatley’s tax prep business, Empowered Finances, to file false returns claiming Coronavirus leave credits and fabricated business losses.
The scam, which spanned from 2020 to 2023, netted the duo a tidy profit, with customers often charged a third of the fraudulent refund amount as a tax prep fee.
The investigation, led by the IRS-Criminal Investigations, uncovered a trail of deceit that led to 23 and 10 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, respectively, against Hatley and Pogue.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the other charges.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Related Federal Cases
- Ramirez, Tax Evasion, Texas 2024 · Washington
- Hatton, Tax Evasion, Texas 2023 · South Carolina
- Dr. John Doe Sentenced to 2+ Years for Bribery, O.C. CA, 2024 · New York
- Dr. John Doe, Health Care Fraud, Chicago IL, 2023 · Illinois
- John Doe, Pandemic Assistance Theft, Providence RI, 2023 · Connecticut
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: North Texas
- Location: TX
- Source: DOJ Press Release
