Kevin M. Silva, 53, and Christine A. Silva, 67, formerly of Fountain Hills, Arizona pleaded guilty today in federal district court to conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims and false claim upon the United States.
The Silvas admitted to conspiring and agreeing to participate in a scheme to obtain payment of false claims for refunds from the IRS by filing false federal income tax returns. In each instance, the Silvas claimed refunds to which they knew they were not entitled.
All of the Sliva’s fraudulent claims were based primarily upon representations that money had been withheld by various financial institutions on behalf of the couple during the subject tax years and that the couple was entitled to the claimed withholdings. No such withholdings ever occurred. In support of each claim, the Silvas submitted to the IRS various false IRS Forms 1099-OID.
“Individuals involved in fraudulent tax refund schemes think there is a secret formula to get free money” said Dawn Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. “We want to make it clear that participating in one of these bogus schemes can send you to prison.”