A former tax return preparer was sentenced to 24 months in prison today for aiding in the preparation of a false tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

According to court filings and statements made in court, Mariano Exantus owned and operated Latrex Multi Service, a tax return preparation business located in Uniondale, New York. From at least 2011 through 2016, Exantus prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns for his clients with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in which he inflated their refunds, or caused the clients to be issued a refund to which they were not legally entitled. On these returns, Exantus falsified itemized deductions and also claimed false credits, including the American Opportunity Tax Credit. Exantus’s conduct caused a tax loss of more than $250,000 to the United States.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Arthur D. Spatt ordered Exantus to serve one year of supervised release, and to pay restitution to the IRS.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman thanked special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Carl Brooker and Sarah Ranney of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.