Fraudster Elias Bermudez, who claims to be an “immigrant-rights activist,” pleaded guilty last week to preparing false tax returns. His sentencing set for December 3, before Judge Diane Humetewa.
Bermudez, founder of Immigrants Without Borders and owner of El Centro de Ayuda, a tax preparation and immigration service was charged on October 3 with 27 counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. Bermudez pleaded guilty to one of the charges on August 31.
Bermudez had El Centro de Ayuda (The Help Center) offices in Phoenix and Tucson.
The government alleged “that for the tax years 2010 through 2012, Bermudez prepared and 22 filed tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) on behalf of individuals that contained false information. Specifically, Bermudez added a false number of dependents to his clients’ returns in order to maximize refundable credits under the Additional Child Tax Credit.”
Allegedly “Bermudez’s clients, at his direction, listed dependents on their tax returns who did not meet the IRS’ s qualifications, including listing dependents who lived in Mexico and not with the taxpayer, and dependents who had not received half of their financial support from the taxpayer. For example, Bermudez encouraged his clients to list family members living in Mexico, many of whom were not the taxpayer’s children or dependents, as dependents on the taxpayer’s tax returns,” according to the indictment.