James J. Sirleaf, a 65-year-old tax preparer from Darby, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to charges related to a scheme involving false tax returns. United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Sirleaf admitted guilt before United States District Court Judge Paul S. Diamond. The charges include 15 counts of aiding in the preparation of false income tax returns and three counts of filing false personal income tax returns.
Sirleaf was indicted in April 2023 for these offenses and has now confessed to all charges. According to court documents and his own admission, Sirleaf operated Metro Financial Services Inc., a tax preparation business in Philadelphia. He prepared fraudulent IRS Forms 1040 for clients for at least the tax years from 2016 through 2019. These forms contained incorrect information such as false deductions, fabricated business expenses, and inaccurate dependent details, leading to lower taxes than actually owed.
Additionally, Sirleaf filed his own false tax returns from 2017 through 2019 by underreporting his income, causing further financial loss to the IRS. The total estimated tax loss due to Sirleaf's actions amounts to $219,622.
Sentencing is set for September 3, 2025, where Sirleaf could face up to 54 years in prison. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Castilla Geiger.
