Latham Man Pleads Guilty To Preparing False Tax Returns

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gnoan Pierre Kablan, age 52, of Latham, New York, pled guilty today to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s New York Field Office. 

As part of his plea, Kablan admitted that he prepared 16 tax returns that contained false information.  These returns, which Kablan prepared for clients for the tax years 2008 through 2011, contained false deductions for charitable gifts, false deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses, and false solar property and energy efficiency credits.  These false deductions and credits gave his taxpayer clients refunds that they were not entitled to.

Kablan faces up to 3 years in prison, a maximum fine of $100,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of 1 year when he is sentenced on May 23, 2016 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  Kablan may also be ordered to pay restitution to the government in the amount of the tax loss that his conduct is found to have caused.

This case was investigated by the New York Field Office of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.