Napa Doctor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax Fraud

2014-06-17

Ali Vaziri was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $116,703 in restitution for tax fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez, and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Ivan Negroni.

Vaziri pleaded guilty on February 3, 2014, to four felony counts of willfully subscribing a false income tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). According to the plea agreement, Vaziri admitted to knowingly submitting false tax returns from 2005 through 2008, causing losses to the IRS and proportionate gains to him in excess of $100,000. Specifically, in his 2005 tax return, the defendant significantly and falsely inflated his business expenses, causing a tax loss of $14,535. In his 2006 return, the defendant again substantially and falsely inflated his business expenses, causing a tax loss of $60,620. In his 2007 tax return, Vaziri once again substantially and falsely inflated his business expenses, causing a tax loss of $27,476. Finally, in his 2008 tax return, the defendant again substantially and falsely inflated his business expenses, causing a tax loss of $14,072. Vaziri further admitted that he was responsible for additional interest and penalties related to those tax losses and had a total due to the IRS of at least $268,568.91.

Vaziri, 49, of Napa, California, was charged in a superseding Indictment by a federal grand jury on June 28, 2012.

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, United States District Court Judge, following a guilty plea to four counts in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). Judge Breyer also sentenced the defendant to a one year period of supervised release, which included six months of time in a Residential Reentry Center. The defendant will begin serving his sentence on or before August 15, 2014.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office