Middlesex County Tax Preparer Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison

MONROE, NJ — On Wednesday, the Middlesex County Prosecutor announced that anyone who used the services of a certain Monroe Twp. tax preparer should examine their prior tax returns for any possible irregularities.

The tax preparer is Jerry Jones, 82, of Monroe.

The prosecutor and the state of NJ say Jones filed "hundreds" of income tax returns that were fraudulent. They say he often claimed deductions, business expenses or exemptions the taxpayer was not entitled to claim.

The filings frequently resulted in refunds or underpayment of income tax, said the state.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's office started investigating Jones in the summer of 2021, after getting "numerous reports" of "scores of questionable personal income tax returns" from Middlesex County residents.

The New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Taxation, which has a criminal investigation unit, then got involved — but not the IRS. Jones was indicted August 16, 2022, for second-degree possessing false government documents, specifically, fraudulent birth certificates and a stamp for the IRS. These items were recovered during a search of his home.

The state says Jones also failed to file a tax return on his own behalf for the income he derived from the preparation and filing of other individuals’ tax returns. Jones ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of failure to file his tax return.

He was sentenced to a five-year state prison term, which was suspended for Jones to pay the New Jersey Treasury in connection with his tax delinquency.

As part of his sentence, Jones agreed not to file tax returns for anyone but himself or provide financial or accounting planning or advice for any other individuals.

If you used Jerry Jones tax services, you are advised to contact Detective Marcus Goode of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4274.