A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as "Main Justice," is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
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A Bakersfield tax return preparer was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison for helping orchestrate a scheme that sought $25 million in fraudulent federal income tax refunds, federal prosecutors said.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Victor Cruz, 41, prepared and filed more than 500 false tax returns between 2019 and 2023 as part of a wider operation led by Miguel Martinez, 42, a Mexican national living in the U.S. illegally.
Prosecutors said Martinez created fake businesses and reported fictitious wages and withholding to the IRS, then filed thousands of tax returns in the names of supposed employees to claim refunds.
Cruz’s filings made up about 10% to 15% of the false returns, and he received thousands of dollars in fees from Martinez, authorities said. The IRS ultimately paid out $2.3 million of the $25 million in refunds claimed.
Martinez pleaded guilty in September 2024 and was sentenced to six years in prison.
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