Family Members Indicted for Conspiracy to Defraud US by Filing False Tax Returns

Strategic Insights -

A federal grand jury in Fort Worth, Texas, has charged four family members with conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing tax returns that sought millions of dollars in false refunds. According to the indictment, the defendants, including David Hunt, Brandon Hunt, Baylon Hunt, and Corey Burt, allegedly conspired to file false tax returns in the name of purported trusts from 2016 onwards. The defendants allegedly received over $1 million from the IRS based on those false tax returns and used the refunds to purchase luxury goods, cryptocurrency, and real estate.

Key Takeaways:

  • The indictment charges four family members, including David Hunt, Brandon Hunt, Baylon Hunt, and Corey Burt, with conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns.
  • The defendants allegedly conspired to file false tax returns in the name of purported trusts from 2016 onwards, seeking over $8.5 million in tax refunds.
  • The defendants received over $1 million from the IRS based on those false tax returns and used the refunds to purchase luxury goods, cryptocurrency, and real estate.
  • Each defendant was charged with conspiracy as well as aiding and assisting in the preparation of tax returns, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return.
  • Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Daniel Lipkowitz of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

Statistics:

  • The defendants allegedly sought over $8.5 million in tax refunds from 2016 onwards.
  • The defendants received over $1 million from the IRS based on those false tax returns.
  • Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge.
  • Each defendant also faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return.

Sources:

  • United States Attorneys General
  • IRS Criminal Investigation