PENSACOLA, Fla.—Wesner Jean-Pierre, a 33-year-old from Orlando, has been sentenced to 26 months in federal prison for preparing false tax returns.
U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence, emphasizing the importance of tax compliance for the nation’s operations and security.
“The United States and its citizens rely on the payment of taxes to defend our country and maintain its operations,” said Mr Coody.
“Efforts to steal from hardworking American taxpayers – here by a corrupt tax preparer – will result in swift and significant sanctions.”
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According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, from 2015 to 2019, Mr Jean-Pierre, who owned WJP Financial Services, LLC in Pensacola, filed nearly 2,000 fraudulent tax returns with the IRS. He reportedly misrepresented income, deductions, credits, and refunds to steal funds from American taxpayers for his gain.
In addition to his prison term, Jean-Pierre will serve one year of supervised release and must repay $830,840.00 in restitution to the IRS.
The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp.
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