Prince George's Tax Preparer Faces Prison For Filing False Tax Returns: Prosecutor

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A 59-year-old Brandywine man has been been found guilty on 23 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Ronald Eugene Watson was a self-employed tax return preparer operating SW Accounting Associates in Largo. The evidence proved that from at least 2015 to at least 2017, Watson prepared and electronically filed with the IRS fraudulent Forms 1040 and related Schedules A and C for his taxpayer-clients.

Watson included inflated and fictitious tax deductions and fraudulent business profits and losses in order to obtain larger tax refunds to which the taxpayer-clients were not entitled, according to court documents. Witness testimony indicated taht Watson varied his preparation fees depending on the amount of the refund requested with fees typically ranging from approximately $500 up to approximately $1,500.

“With filing season underway, the conviction of Mr. Watson is a timely reminder of the importance of choosing an honest, trustworthy preparer. This conviction should also put unscrupulous preparers on notice about the consequences that await those who do not play by the rules,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter.

Watson faces a maximum of three years in federal prison for each of the 23 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. He will be sentenced June 13.