New Haven Pastor Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud
Willie E. McKay, 40, of New Haven, has been found guilty of tax fraud. The pastor of The Love Temple Church, Inc. in West Haven, McKay pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court on to making a false claim to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to court documents, McKay provided income tax preparation services to members of his congregation, including one individual for whom he prepared a fraudulent tax return in for the year 2006. The return listed the address of Love Temple Church as the taxpayer’s home address, which was not accurate, and included a fictitious Form W-2 reflecting inflated wages and withholdings.
The fraudulent tax return reported wages of $47,900 from the State of Connecticut, withholdings of $14,952, and Schedule A deductions for state taxes of $4,359 and personal property tax of $852. Based on the false claim, the IRS issued a refund check in the amount of $9,693.
McKay knew that the taxpayer was a student working at school and was not entitled to the claimed refund. He also did not identify himself as the preparer of the tax return. According to the IRS, the taxpayer was entitled to a federal tax refund of only $363.
McKay faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of the plea agreement, McKay agreed to make restitution to the IRS of $9,693. He also acknowledged that he prepared and filed other false tax returns for the 2005 through 2007 tax years, which will be considered in imposing a sentence.
McKay is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall on .
Related Federal Cases
- Mark W. Errico, Interstate Transportation of Money Obtained by Fraud and Tax Evasion, Connecticut 2017 · Connecticut
- Damian Delgado, Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, Tax Evasion, Connecticut 2017 · Florida
- Elda Sinani, Tax Return Preparation Fraud, Connecticut 2024 · New Jersey
- Danielle Faux, Tax Fraud, Connecticut 2009 · Kentucky
- KEVIN BIEBEL, Tax Fraud, Connecticut 2024 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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