Bridgeport Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty To Filing False Tax Returns

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Bridgeport man pleaded guilty to preparing false tax returns.

Rolando Russell, 62, prepared around 1,820 tax returns from 2013 through 2016 with total refunds of $11.26 million, of which the IRS issued about $10 million.

Many returns were prepared using false Schedule C forms which are profit or loss from business. It reduced taxes owed by up to $6.2 million, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.

Russell pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return. He agreed that losses suffered by the IRS were about $1.5 million.

Many of his clients tax returns will need to be amended and they will be responsible for resolving their own tax liability issues.