A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned an indictment today charging three tax preparers with conspiring to defraud the United States and preparing false tax returns over a three-year period.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jamar Harten, of Shelby Township, Tabitha Scott, of Davisburg, and Tyree Monroe Jr., of Detroit provided tax preparation services for Michigan-based clients at Harten’s tax preparation business, First Class Tax and Consulting. For the year 2022, Harten, Scott, and Monroe allegedly prepared or assisted in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns for clients.
These tax returns allegedly contained fraudulent tax deductions and tax credits, which reduced the amount of taxable income reported by the clients and generated refunds the clients were not entitled to receive. According to the indictment, the clients did not provide Harten, Scott, and Monroe any information indicating they were eligible to claim the false deductions or credits. Harten and Scott allegedly provided prepared fraudulent tax returns for clients in 2021 and 2023 as well.
Harten, Scott and Monroe are each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and multiple counts of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. If convicted, all three face up to five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, as well as three years in prison for each count of helping to file false tax returns for clients.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Christopher P. O’Donnell and Joseph D. G. Castro of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
