Crooked Landlord Sentenced After Caught Defrauding Tenants of Nearly $100,000 in Tax Returns

MILWAUKEE - A 39-year-old Milwaukee man has been sentenced to federal prison for filing fraudulent tax returns of nearly $100,000 by stealing the identity of his tenants.

James Ainsworth (age 39) of Milwaukee appeared in federal court and was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison for filing false federal income tax returns and aggravated identity theft in connection with the filing of those returns.

This prosecution stems from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations that identified approximately 30 tax returns that fraudulently sought tax refunds based on false wages, tax information, and business losses.

Many of the returns provided false wage and tax information purporting to be from employment at a defunct business Ainsworth formed with his brother. Other returns provided false wage and tax information from legitimate employers, who had never employed the indicated taxpayers.

The fraudulent refunds sought by the returns were frequently directed to bank accounts controlled by Ainsworth or his mother.

Based on the false returns filed by Ainsworth, the IRS issued more than $95,000 in tax refunds.

The identity theft charge is based on a false tax return filed by Ainsworth in the name of a woman who had applied to rent an apartment Ainsworth owned. As part of the application process, the identity theft victim provided Ainsworth with her name, address, and social security number. Unbeknownst to her, Ainsworth used this information, along with false income and tax information, to file a false refund claim in her name.

The return indicated that the refund should be directly deposited to a bank account maintained in the name of Ainsworth’s mother and over which he had access and control.

In pronouncing sentence, United States District Judge Pamela Pepper noted the serious nature of Ainsworth’s crimes and their lasting repercussions for the Milwaukee community.

The judge recognized that financial crimes can often be mis-perceived as victimless crimes, and further noted the harm suffered by the victims in this case as well as the taxpayers. Ainsworth was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $95,935, and following his release from prison, Ainsworth will serve 3 years of supervised release.

This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Monfils.

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