SHARE

IRS: Fort Lee Tax Cheat Cost Government Nearly $1.5M

FORT LEE, N.J. – A Fort Lee mortgage broker who admitted filling a false tax return cost the government nearly $1.5 million overall in refunds that he wasn’t entitled to, federal authorities said.

Internal Revenue Service

Internal Revenue Service

Photo Credit: CLIFFVIEW PILOT file photo

Jose Crespo filed returns that falsely listed income from bonds and fuel excise tax credits for several years, beginning in 2006, IRS Special Agent Robert Glantz said following a plea hearing in federal court in Newark.

Crespo collected $652,478 the first year of the scheme for his Specialty Home Services company in Fort Lee, while taking in nearly $60,000 on his personal return, Glantz said.

The following two years, he collected $277,853 and $157,878, respectively, to which he wasn’t entitled, the special agent said.

“Between 2010 and 2011, Crespo also filed U.S. corporate income tax returns for various businesses in which he falsely claimed fuel excise tax credits that generated large income tax refunds,” Glantz said.

The investigation was conducted by agents with the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Newark Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Handling the case is Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal. “

U. S. District Judge Jose L. Linares scheduled sentencing for Dec. 19.

to follow Daily Voice Northern Valley and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE