A Topeka tax preparer pleaded guilty Tuesday to filing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Maurice L. Stewart, 39, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to 13 counts of filing false tax returns causing a tax loss of $93,402.
Stewart filed returns in clients’ names, falsely claiming the returns were self-prepared. He fraudulently reported that clients had suffered business losses.
He filed returns electronically using the IP address of a Topeka business where he formerly was employed as an online IT technical services coordinator. He prepared returns using an online program where he had opened an account using another person’s name.
Sentencing is set for Oct. 30. The parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of two years in federal prison and full restitution. Beall commended the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway for their work on the case.