Accountant Gets Probation for Preparing False Tax Return

An Arizona accountant who pleaded guilty to preparing a false tax return was sentenced to three years’ probation.

Charles D. Kober pleaded guilty in April to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. According to the plea agreement, Kober admitted that he prepared tax returns, at the direction of an attorney, in connection with a package of three offshore trusts designed to lessen the client's income tax obligations (see Accountant Pleads Guilty in Tax Case).  Kober was a resident of Chandler, Ariz. at the time he was charged.

The government contended that Kober prepared tax returns in connection with the fraudulent trust scheme from at least 1980 through 2004.

He was sentenced Monday to a term of three years’ probation, but had faced up to three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.