False tax return charges filed against Riverton man
Jason Hines, a 47-year old Riverton man, has been indicted by a federal jury on the charges of preparing false tax returns. According to the court documents, Hines prepared and filed false tax returns for 20 clients in 2015 and 2016. The indictment alleged Hines that he received more than $106033 in federal refund claims without the knowledge of his clients.
The indictment stated that Hines used these refunds to cover his personal expenses. According to the court documents, Hines was working as a paid tax preparer in 2016 and 2017. The indictment stated that he prepared false tax returns for his clients to claim higher refunds. He allegedly showed a preview copy of the tax returns to his clients with lower tax returns. According to the documents, he allegedly prepared and filed higher tax returns after showing preview copies to the clients.
According to the indictment, Hines allegedly used different ways to claim higher tax returns including false education claims, false business vehicles loss claims, and false business expenses. The indictment stated that Hines diverted the returns to the bank accounts that were controlled by him. He allegedly spent the money to cover his personal expenses.
The federal jury also indicted Hines on the charges of wire fraud related to the returns filed with the Illinois Department of Revenue. The Illinois Department of Revenue allegedly lost $30440 due to the false tax claims filed by Hines. Hines will be summoned by the US Clerk of the Court to appear in federal court in Springfield.
Timothy A. Bass, an assistant US attorney, is representing the government in the case. The investigation is conducted by the Illinois Department of Revenue and the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS. Hines will be sentenced up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted on the charges of wire fraud. Moreover, a single count of false tax return filing carries a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison.
