Pickett, who lives in Belle Glade, Fla., was barred from preparing federal income tax returns for others, along with his children, Jalisa Steele, and Fred Pickett III. They were accused of filing returns under the names of Steele and the younger Pickett, even though they were returned by their father.

The family operated tax preparation businesses under the names Five Star Tax Agency LLC, Five Star Financial Services Inc., and Millennium Tax Professionals.

Pickett Jr. was charged with using fictitious businesses, and claiming false deductions and tax credits and deductions in order to hike client refunds. The 2017 action also said the preparers often did not tell their clients about the actions they took and did not provide them with complete copies of their returns.