The Justice Department's prepared statement did not include information about the number of returns Bender was accused of preparing that allegedly contained bogus information, nor did it cite the amount of alleged lost tax revenue.
Detroit Preparer Indicted for False Returns
A Detroit, Mich.-based tax preparer, who failed to file returns for his own taxes for seven years, has been indicted on charges he also filed false returns for others. Arrested on a portion of the charges on January 10, Matthew Bender faces a superseding indictment that charges him with 16 counts of assisting in the presentation of false tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service along with one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws.
If convicted, Bender faces a potential maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Bender allegedly failed to file his own tax returns from 2003 through 2011. He is also accused ot preparing returns for others that falsely claimed refunds and contained false deductions and tax withholdings.
