Category Archives: Tax Fraud

How to Go to Jail

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Russ

A few years ago, Steven Martinez won the coveted (not really) Tax Offender of the Year Award. His scheme was to tell clients that they had an amount due to the IRS and California. He then prepared a second set … Continue reading →

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Won’t Be Getting Off for a Dime

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Russ

Sreedhar Potarazu is apparently very intelligent. He’s an ophthalmic surgeon in Potomoc, Maryland. He’s also an entrepreneur and an author. He’s also likely to be spending a few years at ClubFed. Dr. Potarazu formed VitalSpring Technologies, Inc., in 2000. Based … Continue reading →

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Stealing From the Disabled Worked…For a While

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Russ

Virginia and Derma Miller, mother and daughter, had a good thing going. They took identities of the physically and mentally disabled and filed tax returns on their behalf. Of course, those returns all had refunds, with those refunds finding their … Continue reading →

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The Tax King Goes to Prison

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Russ

The Tax King—at least, the St. Louis version thereof—is heading to ClubFed. Eyob Tilahun owned the Tax King tax preparation firm in the St. Louis area. He wasn’t charging low prices; his typical fee was $400 to $650. And he … Continue reading →

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Once Bitten, Twice Not Shy

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Russ

Back in 2013, Cedric K. Oliphant was convicted of falsifying a tax return. Specifically, during his plea hearing today [August 30, 2013], Oliphant admitted he knowingly and willfully included materially false deductions for gifts to charity and for unreimbursed business … Continue reading →

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Identity Thief Gets 17 1/2 Years

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Russ

Frantz Pierre, formerly of Parkland, Florida but soon to be residing at ClubFed, was sentenced last week to 210 months at ClubFed and must make restitution of $906,556. What did he do? I’ll let the Department of Justice press release … Continue reading →

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If You Want to Go to ClubFed…

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Russ

…The simplest, fastest, and easiest method (via the tax world) is to withhold employment taxes and not remit them to the IRS. This is always investigated. But at least once a month I see yet another example. Take the case … Continue reading →

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Individual F: Has Kermit Washington Fouled Out?

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Russ

Yesterday I wrote about the guilty plea of former San Diego Charger Ron Mix; today, the other shoe dropped. “Individual F,” as former NBA basketball player Kermit Washington was called in the Mix indictment, was arrested on charges of corrupt … Continue reading →

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Neither Rain Nor Sleet Nor Snow…But What About Theft?

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Russ

Rain–which we had here in Las Vegas this past weekend–didn’t stop the postman from delivering bills I have to pay. Sleet and snow don’t stop the US mail, either. However, theft of the mail will stop it. One postal carrier … Continue reading →

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Bozo Tax Tip #1: Publicize Your Tax Crimes on Social Media!

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Russ

Social media is really, really big these days. You can follow me on Twitter. I may even update my Facebook page one of these days. Of course, I’m not a tax criminal, and my posts hopefully add knowledge for others. … Continue reading →

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