MIAMI — A Port Saint Lucie tax preparer has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for defrauding taxpayers of more than $175,000 and attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship by concealing his crimes from immigration officials.
U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks imposed the sentence on Wislet Metayer, 45, and ordered him to pay $167,792.45 in restitution. A federal jury in West Palm Beach previously convicted Metayer of 32 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and one count of making a false statement related to naturalization.
This defendant abused the trust of his clients and stole from the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “He inflated refunds to increase his fees, costing the U.S. Treasury more than $175,000. At the same time, he attempted to obtain U.S. citizenship while concealing his crimes. Fraud in our tax system and dishonesty in our immigration process will not be tolerated.
Metayer worked as a professional tax preparer from approximately 2019 through 2025. To attract customers and justify inflated preparation fees, Metayer prepared and filed dozens of federal income tax returns containing false business losses, deductions, and credits—without his customers’ knowledge—in order to increase their refunds. As a result of this scheme, the U.S. Treasury suffered losses exceeding $175,000.
Metayer is a Haitian national and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. In March 2024, while his tax fraud scheme was ongoing, Metayer applied to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. As part of the application process, Metayer was required to disclose whether he had ever been convicted of, charged with, or arrested for a crime or offense and whether he had ever committed a crime or offense for which he was not arrested. Metayer concealed his ongoing criminal conduct and falsely denied committing any such offenses.
Metayer will be subject to removal from the U.S. after completing his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
IRS-CI Florida Field Office and HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Osborne prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-14036.
The defendant is Wislet Metayer, 45, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
Metayer was convicted of 32 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and one count of making a false statement related to naturalization.
The crime took place in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.
The exact date of the crime is not specified in the source, however, the sentencing took place on February 11, 2024.
The defendant will serve 36 months in federal prison.
The defendant was ordered to pay $167,792.45 in restitution.
The defendant is a Haitian national and lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
Related Federal Cases
- Jermaine Winters, Tax Refund Fraud and Identity Theft, Florida 2012 · Alabama
- Sean Anthony Lopez, Tax Refund Fraud, Florida 2023 · Florida
- Andy Lamour, Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud, Florida 2012 · Florida
- Kenol Augustin, Identity Theft Tax Fraud, Florida 2014 · Alabama
- Freddie Howard, Tax Refund Fraud Scheme, Florida 2014 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News