U.S. Department of Justice
KANSAS CITY KAN. - A tax preparer in Kansas City, Kan., was indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges of preparing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
Ahferom Goitom, 34, Kansas City, Kan., is charged with fourteen counts of preparing false tax returns. The indictment alleges that Goitom was a professional tax return preparer who worked in Kansas City, Kan., and was the manager of a franchise business that prepares tax returns. He used commercial tax preparation software at the business to file returns electronically with the Internal Revenue Service.
He prepared at least 34 Form 1040s containing false and fraudulent education credits, charitable deductions, medical and dental expenses, home mortgage interest deductions, gross receipts for a sole proprietorship business, expenses for a sole proprietorship business and deductions for rental real estate.
For example, count one of the indictment alleges Goitom filed a return for a taxpayer in calendar year 2009 claiming medical and dental expenses of $5,050; gifts to charity of $8,200; and job expenses and miscellaneous deductions of $5,821.
He knew that in fact the taxpayer was entitled to claim medical and dental expenses of only $226, gifts to charity of approximately $2,000 and no job expenses or other miscellaneous deductions.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting.
He is innocent until proven guilty.
