Escambia Tax Preparer Gets Federal Prison For Tax Fraud

November 7, 2017

An Escambia County tax preparer has been sentenced to federal prison for tax fraud.

Christopher Jacob Rankins, 33, was sentenced  to serve 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to 12 counts of aiding or assisting others in the preparation of false tax returns. In addition, Rankins was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $356,172.

Documents introduced at the time of the guilty plea reflect that, between January 1, 2011, and May 8, 2012, while working as a tax preparer at American Tax Service in Pensacola Rankins aided, assisted, counseled, and advised others in the preparation and presentation of fraudulent and false tax returns. The tax returns prepared by Rankins falsely represented the taxpayers’ business expenses and falsely claimed educational credits which resulted in taxpayers receiving approximately $356,172 in refunds and credits that the taxpayers were not entitled to receive.

The case resulted from the investigation by the Internal Revenue Service — Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love.

Comments

2 Responses to “Escambia Tax Preparer Gets Federal Prison For Tax Fraud”

  1. G on November 9th, 2017 3:38 pm

    In DC where they have always been. Lol

  2. mick on November 7th, 2017 8:15 am

    Assisting others in the preparation of false tax returns. Where are the other crooks at?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News