A tax preparer has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release on his conviction of tax fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Brian A. VanDusen, age 52, of Youngstown, Ohio.

According to information presented to the court, VanDusen operated a tax preparation company called “Easy Tax Refund” located in the Warner Center, in downtown Pittsburgh. Between 2014 and 2018, VanDusen and tax preparers employed at his company prepared and transmitted hundreds of false federal income tax returns which falsified Schedule C profit and loss income from a business, resulting in illegal tax refunds. Losses to the IRS totaled $994,824.00.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of VanDusen.

Original source can be found here.