A Surprise man, Anthony Henry Williams, was found guilty on January 11, 2023, by a federal jury of one count of Conspiracy, seven counts of False Claims to the IRS, eight counts of Money Laundering, and one count of Mail Fraud.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2023, before United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi.
According to the Department of Justice, evidence introduced at trial established that, in 2018 and 2019, Williams submitted seven false tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claiming over $3 million in owed refunds. The IRS processed one of these returns that resulted in an unwarranted $600,000 refund to Williams. The IRS advised him that the return was fraudulent, and that Williams needed to return the money. Williams failed to do so; instead, he purchased two luxury vehicles and a home, among other expenditures.