Federal Jury Convicts Florida Man of Tax Fraud

February 25, 2014 — The IRS Whistleblower Office was established in 2006 to help informants notify the IRS about businesses and private individuals that cheat on their federal taxes. Under the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, whistleblowers in tax fraud cases may be rewarded with 15 to 30 percent of the amount the government collects. The reward is available for tips about businesses no matter the amount recovered. For tips involving private individuals, the rules governing rewards are different. To learn more collaborating with the IRS in tax fraud cases, phone a qui tam lawyer with Waters & Kraus at 855.784.0268.

A federal jury in Palm Beach, Florida has convicted Paul F. Wrubleski, of Weston, Florida, of filing false claims for tax refunds and for corruptly impeding the due administration of tax laws. Wrubleski has been remanded into federal custody.

According to the Justice Department, the evidence at trial demonstrated that from 1999 to 2010, Wrubleski filed false documents with the IRS, including tax returns, obstructive correspondence and other false documents. Wrubleski also impeded the IRS by falsely claiming an exemption from income tax withholding and by submitting false tax returns. In fact, Wrubleski asked for more than $1.5 million in IRS refunds. In 2006, Wrubleski filed for bankruptcy to escape collection efforts by the IRS.

At sentencing in April 2014, Wrubleski could receive a 23-year prison sentence and be ordered to pay a fine of as much as $1.2 million.

Informants notifying the IRS about a tax fraud scam usually retain a lawyer to research the issues, work with the necessary tax law and accounting experts and coordinate operations with the IRS. With a nation-wide presence and extensive qui tam litigation experience, Waters & Kraus provides tipsters in tax evasion cases with aggressive legal counsel. To speak with a tax fraud whistleblower attorney about your potential case, contact us by email or phone at 855.784.0268.