New York Attorney Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Preparing Fraudulent Tax Returns for Clients | WPN World People News

An attorney who operated a tax preparation business in the Bronx, New York, on November 1, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to charges related to his participation in filing fraudulent tax returns and falsely claiming more than $6 million in bogus deductions, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo, head of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara for the Southern District of New York.

William Doonan, 69, of Bronx, New York, on November 1, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and one count of obstructing and impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws.

“William Doonan used his law practice to prepare thousands of false tax returns each year with phony deductions, costing the U.S. treasury more than $1.5 million,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo. “His conviction sends a clear message – we will fully prosecute crooked tax preparers – whether they be lawyers and tax professionals or temporary storefront operators.”

“William Doonan used his law degree and tax preparation business to fleece the IRS of millions of dollars in fraudulent tax deductions,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara. “As he admitted today, Doonan claimed numerous false deductions for thousands of clients, defrauding the IRS and unlawfully depriving the public of tax revenue.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 10, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick. Doonan faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison on the aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false return count and three years in prison on the obstruction of the internal revenue laws count, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice