Submitted by the U.S. attorney's office

ROME — Wilson Ngure, 31, of Calhoun, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of making false claims to the Internal Revenue Service. He was arraigned today by U.S. Magistrate Judge Walter E. Johnson.

“Tax return preparers who knowingly prepare false returns for the purpose of stealing tax refunds will face federal prosecution and federal prison,” said United States attorney David E. Nahmias. “This defendant will now be confronted with the evidence that he engaged in an extensive tax fraud for the purpose of enriching himself and depleting the U.S. Treasury.”

Reginael D. McDaniel, special agent in charge for the Atlanta office of the IRS- Criminal Investigation, stated, “Refunds are issued to taxpayers who are entitled to them. Criminal Investigation will continue to aggressively pursue those who prepare false tax returns to claim improper refunds.”

According to Nahmias, the indictment and information presented in court, Ngure was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 22, 2008. The indictment alleges that he electronically filed tax returns for more than 30 taxpayers, falsifying the taxpayers’ incomes, withholdings and deductions. Ngure also allegedly created false Schedule C business losses, took false education credits and failed to inform the taxpayers that he put false items in their returns. The false claims resulted in approximately $117,000 in improper tax refunds, which Ngure allegedly kept for himself.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States attorney David Leta is prosecuting the case.