Tax Preparer Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison in $1.2 Million Tax Refund Fraud Scheme
DOJ and IRS Remind Taxpayers to File Timely and Accurate Tax Returns by Tuesday, April 18, 2017
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jorge Maldonado, 52, of Oviedo, Florida, has been sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,203,073 in restitution for conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft. His three tax fraud conspirators are scheduled to be sentenced later this month. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
The co-defendants are:
- Jennifer Maldonado, 29, of Oviedo, sentencing set for April 19 at 10:00 a.m.;
- Sharon Glover, 55, of Sanford, Florida, sentencing set for April 20 at 2:00 p.m.; and
- Diane White, 54, of Sanford, sentencing set for April 20 at 10:00 a.m.
In July 2016, a federal jury convicted the Maldonados of conspiracy, wire fraud, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft. Co-conspirators Glover and White pled guilty in February 2016 to conspiracy, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft.
During the six-day trial, the government presented evidence that, between 2009 and 2011, Jorge Maldonado and his daughter Jennifer, who were both tax preparers, conspired with Glover and White to obtain more than $1.2 million in income tax refunds issued on fraudulent tax returns. The Maldonados filed fraudulent returns that generated refunds. Glover and White cashed refund checks issued as a result of the fraudulent returns. They deposited cash proceeds of the checks into the Maldonados’ bank accounts or delivered the cash to the Maldonados. Glover and White cashed 505 checks by using fraudulent powers of attorney, approximately 16 different forged notary seals, and forged taxpayer signatures.
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United States Attorney Canova said: “When fraudsters submit fraudulent tax returns, they are actually stealing from the millions of honest taxpayers who fulfilled their tax obligations accurately and on time. My office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners, such as the Internal Revenue Service, to ensure that tax dollars are used for their intended purpose.”
IRS-Criminal Investigation Tampa Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond said: “When Jorge and Jennifer Maldonado used their tax return preparation service to steal client identities and make a fast buck for themselves and their co-conspirators, they underestimated the special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation. IRS-CI works diligently to protect the American tax system and root out criminals who prey on unsuspecting taxpayers. ”
This case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Herbert S. Lindsey and Gary K. Milligan prosecuted the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.
To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.
For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
amy.alexander@usdoj.gov
