A tax preparer from Port Saint Lucie has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after being convicted of tax fraud and making false statements on a naturalization application. Wislet Metayer, 45, received the sentence on February 11 from U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, who also ordered him to pay $167,792.45 in restitution.
Metayer was found guilty by a federal jury in West Palm Beach of 32 counts related to preparing false tax returns and one count of making a false statement regarding his application for U.S. citizenship.
“This defendant abused the trust of his clients and stole from the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “He inflated refunds to increase his fees, costing the U.S. Treasury more than $175,000. At the same time, he attempted to obtain U.S. citizenship while concealing his crimes. Fraud in our tax system and dishonesty in our immigration process will not be tolerated.”
“When you turn tax forms into tools for bogus refunds —you’re stealing from every honest taxpayer,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Metayer chose to cheat the system and even lied in a bid for citizenship. A jury saw through it, and the court delivered accountability. IRS Special Agents will continue protecting the integrity of the tax system and work with our partners to hold accountable those who engage in fraud.”
Court records indicate that between 2019 and 2025, Metayer operated as a professional tax preparer and filed numerous federal income tax returns containing fraudulent business losses, deductions, and credits without informing his clients. These actions resulted in losses exceeding $175,000 for the U.S. Treasury.
Metayer is originally from Haiti and holds lawful permanent resident status in the United States. In March 2024, while still engaged in fraudulent activities, he applied for naturalization but failed to disclose his criminal conduct as required during the application process.
After serving his prison term, Metayer faces removal from the United States.
The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation’s Florida Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations Miami.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Osborne prosecuted the case.
Additional details about this case can be found on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida’s website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or through http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-14036.
