News release from the office of the US Attorney

St. Louis, MO: David O'Bryant was sentenced to five years of probation, including 12 months of home confinement for preparing a false income tax return by claiming false deductions for his clients, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today.

O'Bryant faced seventy-three counts alleging he included false entries on the tax returns of dozens of his clients for 2002, 2003 and 2004. With his plea in February, O'Bryant admitted to including bogus child care information on the 2004 return of one of his clients as part of his plea agreement. O'Bryant also admitted to causing a tax loss of $80,000 to the government, which he has been ordered to pay as part of his sentencing. To date, Mr. O'Bryant has paid $25,000, and is required to pay $950 per month which will satisfy his restitution when his probation ends.

In 2006, the United States sought a civil injunction barring O'Bryant from preparing future tax returns based on the fraudulent entries contained in his clients' returns. That case was resolved in 2008 with an order barring O'Bryant from, among other things, preparing tax returns.

"While most return preparers provide excellent service to their clients, a few unscrupulous tax preparers file false and fraudulent returns to defraud the government, the tax paying public and their own clients," said Toni Weirauch, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.

O'Bryant, 58, St. Louis, MO, pleaded guilty in February to aiding and abetting the filing of a false tax return, and appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry.

None of O'Bryant's clients were charged with a crime, but many of their inaccurate returns were audited and, as a result, the taxpayers were assessed additional tax owing as well as penalties and interest.

Reap commended the work on the case by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Tom Albus, who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

1 Comments

Pamela Falconer said:

To whom it may Concern,

I was one of his clients that was audited,
for something I did'nt do, and I was
wondering why I have to pay back all this
money with interest. I think he should
be the responsible party for this payment.

May 8, 2009 11:57 AM

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