A Tampa judge has handed down a 15-month prison sentence to Abdul Q. Aziz, a Valrico man who pleaded guilty to aiding in the preparation of false and fraudulent income tax returns. The fraud scheme, which netted Aziz’s friends and family members over $1.5 million in unwarranted refunds, resulted in a loss of over $226,000 to the IRS.
Aziz, who entered a guilty plea on April 4, 2022, offered to help these taxpayers obtain large and unwarranted refunds by filing tax returns which falsely claimed income obtained and withholding credits based upon the payment of interest on mortgages which the taxpayers had previously obtained.
The multiple tax returns which Aziz helped to prepare and file with the IRS led to claims on behalf of taxpayers for unlawful and unauthorized refunds. The actual loss to the IRS as to those returns exceeded $226,000.
According to court documents, Aziz aided in the preparation of false income tax returns on behalf of friends and family members. His actions were part of a larger investigation by the IRS in Tampa and Orlando centered upon this mortgage income/withholding scheme.
Lani Rosado-Espinal, acting Special Agent in Charge of CI Tampa Field Office, weighed in on the sentencing, stating, “Schemes meant to defraud the government will be uncovered. We hope that anyone thinking of participating in this kind of nefarious activity will pause and hopefully realize that their freedom is more valuable than the potential for ill-gotten gains.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer. Aziz’s sentence serves as a reminder of the serious consequences for those who attempt to defraud the government through false tax returns.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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