Court Holds Former Detroit Tax Return Preparer in Contempt of Court for Violating Injunction Order

Dieasha Davis ordered to pay over $24,000 in costs and disgorge all fees she earned since entry of an injunction barring her from preparing federal tax returns

2019-04-16

On Friday, a federal court in Detroit, Michigan, found Dieasha Davis in civil contempt of a permanent injunction barring her from operating a tax return preparation business and preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced.

In the contempt order, Judge Denise Page Hood found that Davis continued to prepare federal income tax returns and profited from preparing tax returns in violation of the court’s injunction, which had been entered against her and the business on September 25, 2017. Davis and the business agreed to the 2017 civil injunction order.

In February, 2019, following an investigation of Davis’ activities, the United States presented to the district court what the court on Friday found was clear and convincing evidence that Davis had violated the injunction. The court entered an order requiring Davis to file a written response to show cause why she should not be held in civil contempt. Davis did not file any response.

Based on the evidence submitted by the United States, the court also found that tax returns Davis prepared in violation of the injunction contained false and fraudulent information after entry of the injunction.

In addition, the court ordered Davis to pay to the United States $24,671 for attorney fees and costs incurred in detecting Davis’ non-compliance and bringing her violations of the injunction to the court’s attention.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice