As the 2022 tax season is behind us and a new one is already beginning, the IRS has released a yearly report listing the top tax offenders of 2022. This list consists of the usual schemes that are seen by the agencies’ Criminal Investigation Units year after year. However, this year’s list does have some prominent names as well as decades of jail time involved. With that being said, let’s take a look at the top 3 tax frauds of 2022.
Sin City
The first offender is a tax preparer in the sin city of Las Vegas. After being charged with filing false tax returns, theft of an ID, money laundering, wire fraud, and impersonating a federal agent, Isaac Umoren was sentenced to 13 years in prison. On top of the jail time, Umoren has also been ordered to pay roughly $10 million in restitution to the victims of his schemes and the United States Government.
According to court documents, Umoren was the owner of Universal Tax Services in Las Vegas. Within this business, the accused prepared and filed federal tax returns using false deductions as well as filing fictitious business returns. He also used the Preparer Tax Identification Numbers(PTINS) from several of his employees, without them being aware.
On top of all that, Isaac forced his clients into using a refund anticipation check program in which he was able to smuggle fees out. In one instance a client wasn’t complying, so Umoren posed as a federal agent and showed up at the victim’s house in tactical gear and flashing a badge.
Off the Air
“Chrisley Knows Best” is a television show featuring a husband and wife acting duo. However, this show might not be on the air much longer as the couple was found guilty of tax evasion on top of a conspiracy to defraud the IRS charge. After being charged with eight federal felonies, Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison. His lovely wife Julia Chrisley also received a seven-year jail sentence after she was charged with 10 federal felonies.
The couple thought they had a foolproof plan to avoid paying $500,000 in late taxes. They opened up corporate bank accounts that were only in the name of Julia. The IRS inquired with Chrisleys for some information regarding these corporate accounts. The couple then transferred ownership of these accounts to a family member shortly after the IRS inquiry.
According to prosecutors, the couple was also charged with conspiracy to defraud banks out of more than $30 million in false loans, and for failing to pay their taxes for the three years of 2013-2016. The Chrisley couple was also found guilty of both of these charges.
Stormy Days Ahead
Famous lawyer Michael Avenatti was found guilty of defrauding the IRS along with four of his clients. He defrauded his four clients of his out of multi-millions of dollars. Avenatti also made countless attempts to obstruct the IRS from collecting payroll taxes from his businesses. After being charged with 14 years in prison, the once prominent lawyer must also pay roughly $11 million in restitution to the clients he defrauded and the IRS.
Michael Avenatti is already in prison for stealing from his former client and adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The other charge he is currently doing time for is extortion after attempting to extort the shoe company Nike out of millions. The 14-year sentence for Avenatti will begin consecutively right after he is finished serving his current sentence.
Wrap Up
This year’s list was certainly an interesting one that featured a few prominent names. The large amounts of money these fraudsters were forced to pay back along with the hefty prison sentences go to show that the IRS will keep up its fight against tax crooks, regardless of who they are.