NEW YORK CITY, NY – A tax preparer from New Jersey was arrested for attempting to fraudulently claim more than $124 million from the IRS.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg announced the charges against Leon Haynes, 49, of Teaneck, New Jersey.
Haynes is charged with eight counts of aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns and one count of mail fraud. He will make his initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court this afternoon.
Investigations suggest that Haynes sought to exploit the COVID-19 employment tax credit programs. From November 2020 to May, Haynes reportedly prepared and submitted 1,387 fraudulent forms to the IRS, claiming COVID-related tax credits for himself and clients, amounting to a total claim of $124.8 million.
Several government departments are involved in the investigation and the consequent charges. These include the IRS, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service.