Joliet Tax Preparer Shut Down By Feds: Authorities

JOLIET, IL — Federal authorities have shut down a Joliet tax preparer after he made up fictitious businesses to benefit his clients, according to officials.

Sir Michael Joseph Davenport and his company, My Unity Tax Financial & Tax Preparation LLC, were permanently enjoined Tuesday from preparing federal returns for others and running a tax preparation business, authorities said. Davenport agreed to the injunction, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

A civil complaint alleges Davenport and his company prepared false returns to cut customers’ liabilities or get refunds, reporting fake businesses, minimal or no income, and fabricated or manipulated expenses, authorities said.

Davenport also operated as a “ghost preparer,” meaning he did not sign customers’ returns or report his preparer tax identification number, authorities said, adding he used software intended for personal tax preparation, creating the appearance customers were filing their own returns.