by Robin Kemp
An Atlanta man who ran a Riverdale tax business has been arraigned on federal charges of aiding the filing of a false tax return, according to Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
Jean Samuel Gai, 45, also was on probation for other “tax-related offenses.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine and court information, Gai owned and operated N.C.E. Financial Services Inc., 2014 through 2018, Gai allegedly “prepared and filed false income tax returns for his clients that allegedly claimed false Schedule C items, false W-2 wages, and false earned income tax credits to obtain refunds that his clients were not entitled to.” Gai then is alleged to have kept over $600,000 for himself.
Gai was convicted of first-degree forgery in November 2013 for stealing and cashing Georgia tax refund checks and was serving ten years’ probation at the time.
“Often in these types of schemes, the taxpayers fall victim to leaning on the trust of their return preparers,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey. “The charges in this case show our seriousness in holding return preparers accountable for abusing their trusted positions to fraudulently gain more client funds. Taxpayers are strongly encouraged to review their return and ask questions in order to avoid falling victim to dishonest return preparers.”
Erskine said “It is important to check a tax professional’s background before engaging him or her to assist with filing any tax returns.”
Gai was arraigned April 6 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas. He presumed innocent until proven guilty and the burden of proof is on the government.
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Phillips is prosecuting it.
