Joe was convicted of one count of conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns and preparing false tax returns that generated inflated refunds for his clients and 11 counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 3.

Joe and Dassin were banned from the business, along with James Tokpawhiea for their actions as a part of Philadelphia, Pa.-based Edron Tax Professionals. They moved the business to Collingdale, Pa., and changed the name to Urban Tax Professionals in 2011. The three are Liberian nationals with most of their clients also from Liberia.

Evidence presented from 2007 through 2010, Joe made up false Forms 2106, Unreimbursed Employee Business Expenses, and placed the false deductions on the tax returns to inflate clients’ refunds by thousands of dollars.  Joe prepared false tax returns with inflated refunds in order to grow his tax preparation business.