MACON - The former owner of Mr. Tax, Etc., a tax preparation business, admitted to manipulating and falsifying client information on filed tax returns in federal court on Thursday, announced Charles “Charlie" Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Willie Moore, Jr., 48, of Braselton, Georgia, entered a guilty plea to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 before U.S. District Judge Tilman “Tripp" Self. A co-defendant in the case, James Prather, 47, of Douglasville, Georgia, previously pleaded guilty to one count Conspiracy to Defraud the United States on May 8, 2019, causing a $1,000,000 loss to the United States Government. The total loss to the United States Government caused by Mr. Moore will be determined at his sentencing. The Conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. Both defendants agreed to be permanently enjoined from preparing or filing federal tax returns for anyone other than themselves. A sentencing date has not been set.
“Both defendants criminally manipulated the tax system for their benefit, ultimately stealing a vast sum of money from taxpayers," said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney. “We will continue to work vigorously to protect taxpayers from government fraud. I want to commend the investigating agents with the Southeast Scheme Development Center and the IRS for their work."
“Mr. Moore used a foundation of fraud and deceit in order to cheat the government and victimize innocent taxpayers and is now being held accountable for his egregious behavior," said IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge, Thomas J. Holloman. “We want the individuals who engage in these schemes to know that we will pursue prosecution and seek to hold them accountable for their corrupt endeavors to rob the nations’ taxpayers. IRS - Criminal Investigation is particularly appreciative of the partnership we enjoy with the Office of the United States Attorney in the investigation and prosecution of tax crimes."
"Together with U.S. Attorney Peeler and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue fraud and abuse in bankruptcy cases," said Nancy J. Gargula, U.S. Trustee for Georgia, Florida, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Region 21).
Co-defendants and business partners Mr. Moore and Mr. Prather orchestrated a tax refund scheme through Mr. Moore’s tax return preparation business AMAB Enterprises, d/b/a/ Mr. Tax, Etc., a storefront location on North Columbia Street in Milledgeville, Georgia. Investigators identified a total of 5,529 suspicious federal income tax returns for the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 tax years, and a high percentage of returns, 97%, receiving a refund. Mr. Moore admitted in his guilty plea agreement that to increase a client’s tax returns, he would manipulate the taxpayer’s returns by listing fraudulent businesses, profits, educational expenses, and household income. Most of the clients interviewed stated that their income tax returns were not explained to them nor were they reviewed with them. Some clients never even received a copy of their returns or were given partial copies missing pages, parts, or schedules. Bank records show more than $400,000 in transfers to the defendants, the profits of the tax refund scheme.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Criminal Investigation Division and the IRS’s Southeast Scheme Development Center. The charges resulted, in part, from a referral by the U.S. Trustee for Region 21 to the U.S. Attorney. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 21 is headquartered in Atlanta, with additional offices in Macon and Savannah, Georgia; Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker prosecuted the case for the Government. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
