IRS Criminal Investigation

IRS-CI wants to wish everyone a very happy and safe Thanksgiving! #IRSCI

Shopping early for online #BlackFriday deals? Here’s an #IRS reminder for your #TaxSecurity: Use strong passwords to minimize your exposure to fraud and identity theft. Use at least 10 characters and include letters, numbers and special characters. www.irs.gov/securitysummit

As we approach this tax filing season, the IRS Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office reminds everyone that fraud and scams never go out of season. TAX PREPARER Charged in 16-Count Indictment for Falsifying Tax Returns for Customers and Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs for Small Businesses. A New Jersey tax preparer was charged in a sixteen-count indictment for using false information to increase client tax refunds, and fraudulently obtaining money from Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. #NJ #EIDL #TAXPREPARER Anne Bonilla, aka “Anne Davinovish,” 53, of Linden, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with thirteen counts of procuring, counseling, and advising in the preparation and filing of false tax returns; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and two counts of wire fraud. Bonilla was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and pleaded not guilty. #CONSPIRACY #WIREFRAUD Bonilla was a tax preparer at Anne Accounting Services Inc. who created fraudulent tax returns on behalf of multiple clients by falsifying various expenses. As a result, those clients’ returns requested higher tax credits and higher refunds than the clients were entitled to receive. Bonilla prepared at least 46 fraudulent tax returns that caused approximately $340,000 in refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled. Bonilla also arranged for a conspirator to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Electronic Filer Identification Number (EFIN) using the conspirator’s personal identifying information. The fraudulent EIN was associated with tax returns that received more than $195,000 in federal refunds for tax year 2023, and the fraudulent EFIN was associated with tax returns that received more than $595,000 in federal refunds for tax year 2023, including tax refunds totaling more than $100,000. #EFIN #FRAUD #TAX In June 2020, Bonilla and a conspirator submitted a fraudulent EIDL application, which resulted in the Small Business Administration (SBA) paying $110,000 in COVID-19 related proceeds. In July 2020, Bonilla and the conspirator submitted another fraudulent EIDL application, which resulted in the SBA paying $131,200 in COVID-19 related proceeds. The July 2020 application was submitted under another person’s name to conceal the involvement of Bonilla and her conspirator, but law enforcement was subsequently able to link the July 2020 application back to Bonilla. #SBA #COVID19 U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. #NEWFO #WHATWEDOCOUNTS #IRSCI To read the full story, click the link below ?????????????????????????? https://lnkd.in/dDNhPWsd

During the holiday season, taxpayers should be aware of gift card scams thieves commonly use this time of year.? To learn how this scam usually occurs, click the image below. #IRSCI #ScamAlert

Learn how to be a #fraud fighter for your agency at https://www.fraudweek.com/. #irsci #fraudweek #IFAW

Partnered with local, state, and federal, law enforcement, our team in Miami, uncovered a network of black-market #cryptocurrency launderers and unlicensed money transmitters. The indictment alleges the defendants worked together to pick up bulk cash, derived from drug sales in cities throughout the U.S., converted cash into crypto, and then converted back into cash and sent to cartel leaders in Mexico and Colombia. #irsci #followthemoney #IFAW #fraudweek

An Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (#OCDETF) case resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for Debra Lynn Mercer-Erwin, of Oklahoma City, for crimes related to international drug trafficking. Between 2010 and 2020, Mercer-Erwin exploited her position as the owner of aircraft titling and guaranty companies to establish an intricate network of illegally licensed aircraft to smuggle large quantities of cocaine into the U.S. Proceeds from subsequent sales were shipped to Mexico to purchase more cocaine and more aircraft. Upon the discovery of aircraft filing irregularities and aircraft loaded with cocaine, Mercer-Erwin unsuccessfully attempted to distance herself from the criminal activity. Read more about this wide-raging, collaborative law enforcement case ?? https://lnkd.in/gPa8Jx8X #IRSCI #WhatWeDoCounts #FollowTheMoney

Do you know the common behavioral red flags of fraud? Learn more about the warning signs of #fraud below. #fraudweek #irsci

California man attempted to obtain more than $13.4 million in COVID?19 pandemic relief funds using shell companies to file multiple false tax returns with the #IRS. #irsci #fraudweek

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. To learn more, click the image below or visit our website at https://lnkd.in/gU-iPH6c. #IFAW #irsci