Collier County Tax Return Preparer Charged In 15-Count Tax Fraud Indictment

Fort Myers, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Augustin Dalusma with 12 counts of filing false claims to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and 3 counts of making or subscribing to false tax returns. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on each filing of a false claim count and up to 3 years in federal prison for each count of subscribing to a false tax return. 

According to the

, between 2014 and 2015, Dalusma intentionally made false and fraudulent claims for tax refunds to the IRS in 12 tax returns that he filed on behalf of others. Additionally, between 2013 and 2015, Dalusma also filed three tax returns to the IRS that willfully underreported his own income.    

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.        

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth.