King Of Prussia Man Admits Filing False Tax Returns On Behalf Of Clients To Boost Refunds

PHILADELPHIA — A Montgomery County tax preparer has admitted in federal court that he filed fraudulent income tax returns on behalf of clients in order to boost the amount of refunds they received from the government.

Eric Amaefuna, 65, a King of Prussia resident, pleaded guilty at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to engaging in a multi-year scheme to defraud the federal government by filing false income tax returns on behalf of clients from his Philadelphia tax preparation practice.

Amaefuna had been charged by indictment in April 2021 with 29 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, according to the federal government.

At the time of the indictment, Amaefuna owned and operated American Financial Stewardship, a tax preparation business located on Bustleton Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia.

The government said Amaefuna had prepared false and fraudulent income tax returns on behalf of numerous clients for at least tax years 2014 through 2016.

Amaefuna also attached documents to the fraudulent filings that inflated client business expenses, inflated state and local taxes, inflated miscellaneous deductions, and included losses that were either entirely fictitious or falsely inflated, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia.

"Our system of taxation relies upon taxpayers contributing their fair share to the federal government, and preparers are supposed to help them do that by accurately reporting income and expenses," U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said in a statement. "The defendant manipulated his clients' tax filings to suit their own needs at the expense of honest taxpayers."

Yury Kruty, an IRS criminal investigation special agent in charge, stated that this case is a reminder to taxpayers that they are "very diligent when it comes to filing an accurate tax return.

"For those who choose to use a tax return preparer, filing an accurate tax return starts with staying clear of unscrupulous tax return preparers," Kruty said in a statement. Remember, YOU as the taxpayer, are ultimately responsible for filing a timely, complete, and accurate tax return."

A possible prison sentencing range for Amaefuna was not immediately made clear.