Bourbonnais Tax Preparer Charged With Filing False Income Tax Returns And With Aiding In The Preparation Of False Income Tax Returns For Others

Urbana, Ill. – A Bourbonnais tax preparer, Robert J. DeAngelo, 62, of St. Pauls Drive, is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Apr. 2, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge David G. Bernthal in Urbana.  A grand jury indicted DeAngelo last week on three counts of filing a false income tax return and 14 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. 

According to the indictment, DeAngelo operated a home office that provided tax services, including preparing and filing federal income tax returns for its clients. The indictment alleges that DeAngelo prepared and filed tax returns as a sole proprietorship, on behalf of himself and his wife, which understated gross receipts and overstated expenses for 2008, 2009, and 2010. DeAngelo allegedly claimed an adjusted gross income of $3,647 in 2008, when, in fact, his actual adjusted gross income was approximately $44,244.  For 2009, DeAngelo allegedly understated his gross receipts by approximately $40,690, and claimed an adjusted gross income of $486.00. In 2010, DeAngelo allegedly falsely claimed an adjusted gross income of $346.00.  As a result, for each return, DeAngelo qualified and claimed the earned income credit.

The indictment further alleges that for 2007 through 2010 tax years, DeAngelo created false employee business expense deductions for his tax return clients, without their knowledge.  As a result, these tax returns provided larger refunds for DeAngelo’s clients, and resulted in an overall tax loss of approximately $50,193 to the United States.

The charges are the result of an investigation by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller.

If convicted, for each count of filing a false income tax return and for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, the statutory penalty is up to three years in prison. 

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.