Philadelphia Return Preparer Convicted of Tax Fraud
Used Minors’ Identities to be Claimed as Dependents
A federal jury in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, found Nvahbulai Quisiah guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States, preparing false client tax returns, wire fraud, and identity theft, on Febuary 28, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Quisiah owned and operated First Premier Tax Service, a tax return preparation business in Philadelphia. From 2010 through 2017, Quisiah falsified clients tax returns by claiming false dependents, itemized deductions, and business losses to fraudulently increase the refunds paid by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“The Justice Department and the IRS will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute corrupt tax return preparers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman. “Preparing false tax returns for clients, and using minors’ identities to do so, will not be tolerated.”
“Today’s verdict serves as a reminder to tax preparers (and tax payers) as we find ourselves in the middle of tax season: don’t try to defraud the federal government,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvannia. “When tax preparers fraudulently inflate tax refunds, every honest American tax payer loses. My Office will continue to work with our federal partners here and in Washington D.C. to investigate and prosecute these crimes.”
U.S. District Judge Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro scheduled sentencing for June 10, 2020. At sentencing, Quisiah faces 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, a maximum of five years in prison for conspiracy, three years in prison for aiding and assisting in preparing tax returns, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
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