Irony meter test - 4/15 - tax preparer arrested

[Judge Roy Bean]

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/f ... or-launde/

Steven Martinez, a former Internal Revenue Service agent who has been running a tax preparation business, was arrested today (April 15) and charged with 49 counts including mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, making false tax returns, and money laundering. The indictment charges Martinez with stealing more than $11 million in tax payments that should have been sent to the IRS.

[David Merrill]

You have to be careful out there. This guy is a banker with a Tax Preparation License!!

EDIT - by CaptainKickback 4/18: Removed image. David has it plastered everywhere and in terms of this thread, a non-sequitor. I am loath to weild power, and only do so after much thought and in a minimal manner.

[Pottapaug1938]

You have to be careful out there. This guy is a banker with a Tax Preparation License!!

David, in all my years working in the financial sector, I have seen quite a few people like this who have absolutely no business handling other people's business or money. Often, they are insurance agents whose license allows them to give financial advice, trade in mutual funds, and the like; but what they do to people borders on the criminal -- and sometimes crosses the line. Most financial planners are good -- the one my wife uses is excellent; but some out there will take you for all you're worth. I hope that the feds nail this guy, and good.

[David Merrill]

[off-topic gibberish removed]

[Thule]

Because this Note:

Please stay on topic, David.

[Pottapaug1938]

I think that this is more a case of an IRS agent "going off the rails", so to speak. He isn't the first, and he won't be the last.

[Thule]

From the article;

The indictment charges Martinez with stealing more than $11 million in tax payments that should have been sent to the IRS. Martinez would present his clients with completed tax returns and then persuade them to write checks payable to a trust account rather than to the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board.

Seriously. How did Martinez think he could get a way with that scheme?

[Nikki]

Probably long enough for him to park the money in some safe off-shore haven and then follow it there.

But, he got too greedy and didn't move fast enough.

[Judge Roy Bean]

Probably long enough for him to park the money in some safe off-shore haven and then follow it there.

But, he got too greedy and didn't move fast enough.

I think that's typical of con artists.