TACOMA, Wash. — In a stunning turn of events, Keith Altamirano, 52, of Vancouver, Washington, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to sixteen counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns. The defendant’s illegal activities have cost the U.S. Treasury over $5 million, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.
Altamirano operated Integrity Investments, LLC, under the guise of “Servicios Latinos.” His scheme spanned from 2017 to 2021, during which he prepared at least 12,000 tax returns. A statistical sampling analysis revealed Altamirano’s false entries on client tax returns as the source of this significant financial loss.
The plea agreement and indictment detail how Altamirano falsified clients’ income tax submissions by inflating deductions through fake medical expenses, charitable donations, depreciation for non-existent cars, and fabricated business expenses. He concealed his fraud by using “White Out” to alter documents and omitting his name on filed returns.
Unfortunately, the clients were oblivious to Altamirano’s deceitful actions, which he used to build his business by providing larger refunds than legitimate. The tax loss for the 16 counts he pleaded guilty to totals $104,518, which Altamirano agreed to pay in restitution to the IRS.
This month, Altamirano faced additional charges in Clark County Superior Court, pleading guilty to attempted second degree murder and drug charges. He was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment, to run concurrently with his federal sentence as per the Clark County judgment.
For each count of aiding and assisting with filing a false or fraudulent tax return, Altamirano faces up to three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. While prosecutors agreed to recommend imprisonment at the low end of the federal guidelines range, Chief Judge David G. Estudillo retains discretion over the final sentence.
The IRS-CI conducted the investigation, with Amanda McDowell handling the prosecution of this case.
Related Federal Cases
- Macon Tax Preparer Willie Grant Sentenced For ID Theft & Fraud · Washington
- Tax Preparer Kyle Baxter Gets Two Years for Fraudulent Refunds · Washington
- Tax Fraud Kingpin Colaco Sentenced to Nine Years · Washington
- Vancouver Musician Anderson Gets 46 Months for Wire Fraud · Washington
- Whidbey Island Couple Sentenced for Tax Fraud · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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