Charles Anthony Keemer, a 64-year-old resident of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, has admitted to aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division's Washington Field Office.
Keemer was involved in preparing U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns for clients between 2013 and 2016 without proper registration or qualifications. He charged fees for these services but did not report this income on his own tax returns. Despite lacking formal education or experience in tax preparation, Keemer filed hundreds of returns electronically using online software.
The plea agreement reveals that Keemer added false information to increase his clients' refunds fraudulently. This included fictitious businesses and expenses on Schedule C forms. His actions resulted in an estimated $128,691 loss to the IRS.
Keemer could face up to three years in federal prison for his actions. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other factors. Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby has yet to set a sentencing date.
United States Attorney Hayes acknowledged the efforts of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division in this case and expressed gratitude towards Assistant United States Attorneys Brooke Oki and Coreen Mao for their prosecution work.
For further details about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and its resources, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md.
