Local Tax Preparer Arrested for Fraud

A Lynn tax preparer was arrested Friday on numerous charges related to tax fraud.

According to a press release from the Massachusetts District Attorney’s Office, Arismendy Ramos, a/k/a Arismendi Ramos, a/k/a Aris Almonte is facing four counts of filing false tax returns and two counts of obstructing the IRS. He has been ordered held pending another hearing.

“According to allegations in the complaint, Ramos owned and operated Almonte Tax, a tax preparation service in Lynn, and prepared tax returns for numerous clients. Ramos allegedly filed false forms with the IRS claiming that he paid the clients to work for him when, in fact, they had never been employed by him. Ramos then allegedly claimed the bogus wages as business expenses on his own personal tax returns, thereby illegally reducing his own tax liabilities. The obstruction charges allege that Ramos instructed two clients that they should lie if they were asked about the false wages.”

Ramos could face a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for each count.

The press release states that ”actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.”