TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Kenneth Alexander, 46, of Tallahassee, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of preparing false tax returns, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft. Alexander, a former linebacker on Florida State University’s 1993 national championship team, was also ordered to pay $1,057,753.40 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. The sentence was announced today by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Between 2012 and 2016, Alexander, the sole shareholder of Wizard Business Center tax preparation business in Tallahassee, prepared and filed false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for various individuals. Alexander falsely represented the taxpayers’ Schedule A itemized deductions, Schedule C and E losses, and marital status.

"The integrity of our system of taxation lies at the heart of what we do as a nation, and those who try to defraud the system will pay the price," Keefe said. "The trust of the American people relies on fair administration of our tax laws, and this defendant violated that trust and will now face the consequences."

"Mr. Alexander used his position as a trusted accountant and well-known FSU football player to file false tax returns as part of a complicated scheme involving obtaining false solar power credits and false deductions for his clients," said Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigation, Tampa Field Office. "Additionally, he represented these clients before the IRS regarding the false returns in furtherance of the scheme. This conduct undermines the credible professionals in the tax community and damages the many individuals who sought his counsel. The prison sentence of 54 months and restitution of more than $1 million underlines the significant consequences of failing to follow the law. The special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to hold accountable those unscrupulous tax professionals who attempt to manipulate clients and the tax system."

Assistant United States Attorney Gary Milligan prosecuted the case following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Emerald Coast Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes IRS Criminal Investigation and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Treasury Inspector General’s Office for Tax Administration.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Kenneth Alexander, 46, of Tallahassee, was arraigned today in the U.S. District Court in Tallahassee after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with nine counts of preparing false tax returns, filing a false tax-related document, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft.  The indictment was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges that Alexander, the sole shareholder of Wizard Business Center, a tax preparation business in Tallahassee, prepared and filed false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for various individuals between 2012 and 2016.  The indictment alleges that Alexander falsely represented the taxpayers’ Schedule A itemized deductions, Schedule C and E losses, and marital status.

The maximum penalty for each count of preparing false tax returns and filing a false tax-related document is three years in prison.  The maximum penalty for theft of government funds is 10 years in prison.  The penalty for aggravated identity theft is two years consecutive to any other sentence imposed.  The trial is scheduled for September 10 at 8:15 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation and the Emerald Coast Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes IRS Criminal Investigation and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Treasury Inspector General’s Office for Tax Administration.  Assistant United States Attorney Gary Milligan is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.