A tax preparer who operated from Jacksonville, N.C., between 2012 and 2018, has been sentenced to three years in prison for preparing false tax returns. Gene Hersholt Williamson II was also ordered to pay $637,000 in restitution.In addition, Williamson did not file any returns for himself for 2012 through 2017. His actions resulted in a loss of $550,000 in taxes.
Williamson was convicted of one count aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. For those with minimal income, Williamson created fictitious Schedule C businesses. If clients had substantial wage income, he claimed significant expenses in order to qualify them for the earned income tax credit.
The preparer took 10 percent of refunds as payment and his also did not list himself as the paid return preparer on returns he prepared.
