Las Vegas Tax Preparer Sentenced to 38 Months in $5 Million Refund Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Client Refunds
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Ivan Odiaga has been sentenced to 38 months in federal prison. He worked preparing tax returns at Silver State Tax & Multiservices LLC in Las Vegas, a business run by his mother, Iris Hondermann.
According to the department, from 2017 to 2021 Odiaga claimed more than $5 million in fraudulent refunds using fabricated business income and losses, false COVID-19 sick and family leave credits, and residential energy credits. He also diverted more than $1.1 million of clients' refunds and, in 2020 and 2021, used other people's Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs). His mother pleaded guilty on August 5 to related conduct.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 拉斯维加斯联邦法院大楼。图：Wikimedia Commons「Lasvegascourthouse.jpg」，Public domain 授权。 / Photo: the federal courthouse in Las Vegas. Source: Wikimedia Commons ("Lasvegascourthouse.jpg"), Public domain.
