Score:   1
Docket Number:   CD-IL  3:17-cr-30074
Case Name:   USA v. Kinioki Mpetshi
  Press Releases:
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A jury has convicted a former Jacksonville, Ill., resident for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns and for filing false tax returns. On Friday afternoon, Aug. 16, 2019, a jury deliberated approximately two hours before returning guilty verdicts on all charges against West Mpetshi (ma-pet-shē). Sentencing is scheduled on Dec. 13, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough. 

During the two weeks of trial, which began on Aug. 5, the government presented evidence that in 2015 and 2016, Mpetshi, 38, was living in Jacksonville and was employed at Cargill Meat Solutions Corp., in Beardstown, Ill. The defendant was not a licensed tax preparer but used the tax preparation software program TurboTax at his home to prepare returns for himself and others, including fellow Cargill employees who were French-speaking. Mpetshi was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a French-speaking country in southern Africa.

Mpetshi typically charged $250 to $300 to prepare and submit a tax return. Individuals would generally provide income information to Mpetshi who required payment up front. Mpetshi then prepared the return and added false deductions and credits for education or moving expenses which resulted in higher refunds paid to the taxpayer. Taxpayers were not provided copies of their filed returns.

Mpetshi, currently of Carbon Cliff, Ill., will remain on bond pending sentencing. Each of the 30 counts charged carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

At trial, the government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory K. Harris and Patrick D. Hansen. The IRS, Criminal Investigation Division, investigated the charges.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The sentencing today of a Rock Island, Ill., woman for preparing false tax returns to generate refunds serves to highlight the potential serious legal consequences for running afoul of the tax laws.

This afternoon, U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow sentenced Roshaun J. Terry to 48 months in prison and ordered her to pay $214,329 in restitution to the IRS. Terry waived indictment and pleaded guilty on Sept. 18, 2017, to preparing false income tax returns for others to generate refunds. From February 2010 to May 2015, Terry was responsible for preparation of approximately 240 false tax returns that requested more than $500,000 in fraudulent refunds. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Allegro represented the government in the prosecution of Terry.

In advance of the April 17, 2018, tax filing deadline, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office, are reminding citizens that falsely preparing tax returns and evading taxes are crimes.

“Every year, the people of the Central District of Illinois dutifully fulfill their obligation to fund their state and local governments,” stated U.S. Attorney John Childress. “Unfortunately, a few shirk that duty or worse, attempt to profit at the expense of their fellow citizens. Such behavior is not only illegal but unjust and those who engage in tax crimes will face vigorous investigation and prosecution.”

“As we approach the closing of this tax filing season, those Americans who file accurate, honest and timely returns can be assured that the government will hold accountable those who do not,” said Gabriel Grchan, the Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office. “Today’s sentencing of Roshaun Terry emphasizes that the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who would attempt to defraud America’s tax system.”

Three additional tax cases with activity in December 2017 reinforce this message:

Hisham Jaber, of Peoria, Ill., owner of H & M Investments, Inc., was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $506,416 in restitution to the IRS. Jaber operated Smokers Paradise, two retail tobacco shops, in Pekin and Canton, Ill. Jaber pleaded guilty in August to underreporting or failing to report a combined total of more than $1.5 million in taxable income for H & M Investments, Inc., for tax years 2010 through 2013. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Darilynn J. Knauss represented the government in the prosecution of Jaber.

Tina Cozart, of California, formerly of Carlock, Ill., was sentenced to 42 months in prison for defrauding her former employer of more than $1 million. In addition to restitution to her former employer and an insurance company, Cozart was ordered to pay $346,299 to the IRS. Cozart pled guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Darilynn J. Knauss represented the government in the prosecution of Cozart.

West Mpetshi (ma-pet-shē), of Jacksonville, Ill., was indicted on charges that he aided and assisted in the preparation of false income tax returns in 2015 and 2016. Trial is scheduled for August 2018. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris is representing the government in the prosecution of Mpetshi. An indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

For help and assistance in choosing reputable tax professionals for preparing tax returns, or for assistance in preparation of individual tax returns, please visit the official IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/help-resources

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A grand jury today indicted a Jacksonville, Ill., man for allegedly aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. The indictment alleges that West Mpetshi (ma-pet-shē), 36, of the 500 block of Beecher Ave., added false deductions and credits to income tax returns he prepared in 2015 and 2016.

 

The U.S. Clerk of the Court will issue a summons to Mpetshi to appear in federal court in Springfield for arraignment.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris, and was investigated by the IRS, Criminal Investigation.

 

If convicted, each of the four counts charged carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

 

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FVn2CbiZeo1bLZwuTnBSfKQpHVHR69uCcsLsSqyMyrc
  Last Updated: 2023-10-13 18:58:01 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the second highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the third highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE3
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the fourth highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE4
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE4
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE4
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE4
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the fifth highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE5
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE5
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE5
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE5
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
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