Shellsburg Tax Return Preparer Charged With Preparing ANd Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns

Keith Rath, 52, from Shellsburg, Iowa, has been charged with eight counts of preparing and presenting fraudulent tax returns. The charges are contained in an Indictment unsealed on March 22, 2013, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.

The Indictment alleges that, between about January 2008 and March 2010, Rath prepared and filed eight fraudulent tax returns.

If convicted on all charges, Rath faces a possible maximum sentence of 24 years’ imprisonment, an $800,000 fine, $800 in special assessments, and eight years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

Rath appeared on March 22, 2013, in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was released on conditions of supervision. Rath’s next appearance for trial is set for May 20, 2013.

As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 13-0012-LRR.