Local Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud, Obstructing IRS

A Lynn tax preparer pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Boston Thursday to filing fraudulent personal federal tax returns and attempting to obstruct the Internal Revenue Service.

Arismendy Ramos, also known as Arismendi Ramos and Aris Almonte, 42, pleaded guilty to four counts of filing false tax returns and two counts of obstruction, United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz announced.

Ramos owned Almonte Tax, a tax preparation service in Lynn, and personally prepared tax returns for several clients. From 2008 through 2013, Ramos filed false forms with the IRS claiming that he paid clients to work for him when they had never been employed or paid by him. Ramos then claimed the bogus wages as business expenses on his own tax returns. Ramos also told two clients to lie if they were asked about the false wages.

The crimes call fora sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 on each count. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Feb. 3, 2016.