Vineland Tax Preparer Indicted for Preparing Fraudulent Tax Returns

The owner and operator of Grant Tax Service, a tax preparation business located in Vineland, N.J., has been indicted by a federal grand jury on eighteen counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and five counts of filing false income tax returns.

According to the indictment:

Wilford Grant, a resident of Vineland, N.J., owned and operated Grant Tax Service. For the tax years 2008 through 2011, it is alleged that Grant prepared false and fraudulent income tax returns for approximately 26 clients by claiming false filing statuses, fabricating and inflating itemized deductions and fabricating education expenses. By falsifying this information, Grant was able to obtain tax refunds for clients greater than those they were lawfully entitled to receive. These fraudulent tax returns caused a tax loss to the government in excess of $103,000.

It is also alleged that for the tax years 2008 through 2011, Grant prepared false and fraudulent tax returns for himself and his wife by falsifying his and his wife’s filing status and failing to report income earned by Grant Tax Service. In addition, it is alleged that for the 2012 tax year, Grant failed to report income earned by Grant Tax Service on his personal tax return.

If convicted, each count of the indictment carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of three years and a statutory maximum fine equal to the greatest of: (1) $250,000; (2) twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain derived from the offense; or (3) twice the gross amount of any pecuniary loss sustained by any victims of the offense.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The investigation was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen and The U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Richardson.