An Orlando man who fraudulently prepared and filed tax returns for himself and more than 30 others will spend nearly two years behind bars.
On Wednesday, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced that Marc Arthur Eliassaint, 36, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for filing false tax returns and aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
Eliassaint had pleaded guilty to the charges on November 16, 2023.
According to court records, Eliassaint prepared and filed false tax returns for himself for tax years 2016 through 2019 by claiming false fuel tax credits, itemized deductions, business losses, and misstating his income and federal income tax withholding amounts.
In addition, Eliassaint owned and operated a tax preparation business named 360 Tax Services, LLC. Through this business, Eliassaint filed a total of 35 false tax returns on behalf of other individuals for tax years 2016 through 2020.
Those 35 tax returns also claimed false fuel tax credits, itemized deductions, business losses and profits, and misstated income and federal income tax withholding amounts, which fraudulently inflated the amounts of the tax refunds for each individual.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Hu, Jennifer Harrington, and Ranganath Manthripragada.
“Today’s sentencing highlights the determination IRS-CI Special Agents have when they pursue tax preparers who exploit the tax system,” stated IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Lani Rosado-Espinal on Wednesday. “The dishonesty and complete disregard exhibited by individuals like Eliassaint not only undermines the trust in our tax system but also violates the expectations that all Americans are supposed to adhere to.”
Special Agent Rosado-Espinal added that the Internal Revenue Service is “leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to combat fraudulent return preparers and will persist in safeguarding taxpayer funds.”