PITTSBURGH – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of tax fraud and wire fraud, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.
Brian A. VanDusen, age 52, of the City’s Hill District neighborhood, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Van Dusen operated a tax preparation company called “Easy Tax Refund” located in the Warner Center. Between 2014 and 2018, Van Dusen 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.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for January 19th, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for maximum sentence per count of three years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued VanDusen on bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of VanDusen.