Indian-Origin Tax Evader Sentenced to Prison, Owes $550K in Restitution to US
New York, Dec 22: A 56-year-old Indian-origin tax return preparer, Samir Patel, based in Statesboro, Georgia, has been sentenced to two years in prison for tax evasion. Patel, who owned a franchise of a national return preparation business, pleaded guilty to willfully filing false income tax returns, omitting over $1.28 million in income, including funds from S&W Amusements, a company he owned.
The court has ordered Patel to pay approximately $550,000 in restitution to the United States, along with a $95,000 fine. After serving his prison term, he will undergo three years of supervised release. As part of his sentence, Patel is also barred from preparing tax returns for others or entities in which he has no interest during his term of supervised release.
Jill E Steinberg, the US Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, emphasized the consequences of attempting to cheat the tax system, stating, “This sentence demonstrates the substantial consequences of attempting to cheat the system.” The case highlights the importance of citizens’ lawful participation in the income tax system to support the nation’s operating revenues.
