N.J. Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty

The owner of a New Jersey tax preparation business has pleaded guilty to charges of preparing fraudulent tax returns for his clients.

Sean Gunby Sr., 44, the owner of Gunby Consulting Inc. and Gunby Consulting Group, located in Clifton, N.J., entered his plea Monday before U.S. District Court Judge Claire C. Cecchi, admitting to one of 28 counts charging him with aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

Gunby admitted that he prepared false tax returns for tax years 2006 through 2010 for his clients by fabricating and inflating certain expenses, deductions and credits on Schedules A, C, D and E of his clients’ personal tax returns. The total amount of tax the Internal Revenue Service was defrauded by was approximately $84,559, according to prosecutors.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 4. The tax charge carries up to three years in prison and a fine of at least $250,000.

“While most return preparers provide excellent service to their clients, a few dishonest tax preparers file false and fraudulent returns to defraud the government, the taxpaying public and their own clients,” said Shantelle P. Kitchen, special agent in charge in IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Newark Field Office, in a statement. “With this year’s filing season just around the corner, the taxpaying public can be assured that IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to vigilantly identify and investigate fraudulent preparers like Mr. Gunby.”

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