Federal Court Shuts Down Nevada Tax Return Preparer

WASHINGTON - A federal court has permanently barred Francis Kenneth (Frank) Albert of Sparks, Nev., from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. The court found that Albert repeatedly engaged in fraudulent or deceptive conduct in preparing returns.

According to the government complaint in the case, Albert engaged in several different schemes while preparing returns. These included inventing fake businesses, fabricating expense deductions and fabricating charitable contribution deductions. The complaint alleged that Internal Revenue Service audits have revealed that Albert’s schemes have cost the government at least $1.1 million.

Since 2001, the Justice Department has obtained injunctions against more than 425 tax preparers and tax-fraud promoters. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department Web site.