Bourbonnais Tax Preparer Convicted Of Filing False Income Tax Returns

Peoria, Ill. – Sentencing is scheduled on April 10, 2015, for a Bourbonnais, Ill., man convicted yesterday of three counts of filing a false tax return and nine counts of aiding and abetting the preparation of false tax returns. A jury deliberated for approximately five hours on Dec. 10, before returning 12 guilty verdicts against Robert J. DeAngelo, 63.

From 2007 to 2010, DeAngelo provided tax services from his home office, on St. Pauls Drive, Bourbonnais, that included the preparation and filing of tax returns for hundreds of clients. During the trial, which began on Monday, Dec. 8, the government presented evidence to establish that for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 tax years, DeAngelo falsely underreported his tax business’s gross receipts and inflated its expenses. Despite receiving tens of thousands of dollars in income during this time, DeAngelo paid no federal income tax for those years, and in fact, claimed an earned income credit. For tax years 2008, 2009, and 2010, DeAngelo failed to pay more than $30,000 in federal income taxes that were due and owing. During this time period, DeAngelo also created false employee business expense deductions, namely unreimbursed business mileage, for his tax return clients, without their knowledge. The false income tax returns provided larger refunds for DeAngelo’s clients and resulted in an overall tax loss of more than $50,000.

Following the jury’s return of the guilty verdicts, U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm allowed DeAngelo to remain on release under conditions of bond pending sentencing.  Judge Mihm scheduled sentencing for DeAngelo on all charges for April 10, 2015.

The maximum statutory penalty for each count of filing a false tax return and aiding and abetting the preparation of a false tax return is three years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, plus the costs of prosecution. 

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