Livingston Tax Return Preparer Admits Filing Tax Returns Using the Identification of a Dead Person | WPN World People News

A Livingston, New Jersey tax return preparer admitted filing false claims with the IRS using a dead tax return preparer’s identification and preparing false documents for numerous fraudulent loans, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Todd P. Halpern, 48, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to an information charging him with filing false claims and wire fraud.

In late 2008, Halpern purchased A & V Financial (A & V), a tax return preparation business located in Guttenberg, New Jersey, from the wife of the prior owner, V.R., who had died in March 2008. Halpern received the company’s computers and all of its client records. As part of the agreement to purchase A & V, Halpern was to obtain a new Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) in his own name. Instead, he continued to file tax returns using V.R.’s EFIN number because Halpern’s criminal record prevented him from obtaining an EFIN.

From 2009 through 2010, Halpern prepared and caused to be filed 657 fraudulent federal income tax returns with the IRS using V.R.’s EFIN. Halpern prepared and filed some of these fraudulent tax returns without the knowledge and authorization of the taxpayers identified on the returns. Some of these tax returns contained fraudulent income and deduction amounts, which generated fraudulent refunds that were directly deposited into Halpern’s bank account.

On or about June 24, 2009, in one case, Halpern prepared and filed a fraudulent 2008 Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return with the IRS in the name of B.G., which fraudulently claimed an income tax refund in the amount of $13,183. The 2008 Form 1040 prepared by Halpern contained false income and deduction entries for B.G., because B.G. did not have any income for that tax year and did not file an income tax return. The $13,183 tax refund was directly deposited into Halpern’s bank account.

Halpern received a total of $373,938 in fraudulent tax refunds. He used these funds to support his lavish lifestyle, including purchases at Prada, Chanel, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales; to acquire season tickets to the New York Giants; to purchase thousands of dollars in jewelry, gold coins, and silver certificates; to make car payments on multiple luxury vehicles, including a 2007 Cadillac Escalade and a 2008 Lexus GX-470; and to buy car parts for his classic 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

From January 2008 through May 2012, Halpern prepared false documents for numerous fraudulent loans from financial institutions. Halpern prepared tax returns, Forms W-2, and bank statements showing inflated income and asset balances to be used to support loan applications for borrowers, including him, to acquire mortgage loans, primarily involving residential properties in New Jersey, as well as other personal and business loans. Halpern and others caused the fraudulent documents to be submitted to mortgage lenders, other financial institutions, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which were relied upon for the approval of mortgage and other loans.

In November 2009, Halpern served as the buyer for the short sale of 215 Newark Ave. in Bloomfield, New Jersey, from seller B.S. for a purchase price of approximately $185,000. In support of Halpern’s purchase of this property, an FHA-insured mortgage loan for Halpern in the amount of $181,649 was obtained from a New Jersey-based mortgage company. Halpern and others submitted numerous fraudulent documents to FHA and to the mortgage company, including false bank statements, pay stubs, and 2008 federal income tax returns in Halpern and his wife’s names. As in his tax fraud scheme, the false tax returns that Halpern prepared reflected V.R.’s identification number in an effort to conceal that Halpern had personally prepared the tax returns.

At the plea hearing, the court also entered a Consent Judgment and Order of Forfeiture for $373,938 and for a classic 1957 Chevy Bel Air, which constitutes the proceeds that Halpern obtained as a result of his frauds.

The wire fraud count to which Halpern pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, or twice the gross amount of pecuniary gain or loss resulting from Halpern’s offense. The tax fraud count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2013.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office