District of Minnesota Joins DOJ’s Fraud Division, IRS, and IRS-CI to Expose More than $490M in Tax Fraud in National Tax Enforcement Surge; Minneapolis Father and Son Plead[...]

MINNEAPOLIS - United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that a Minneapolis father and son pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States on October 9 and October 1, respectively. These pleas are part of nationwide enforcement actions led by the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division, Internal Revenue Service, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation targeting tax fraud and related offenses. The District of Minnesota was a key participant in this surge effort.

The father also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Between early September and today, the National Fraud Enforcement Division's Tax Section and U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country participated in the Department's first-ever National Tax Enforcement Surge. The surge of nationwide resources resulted in prosecutorial actions against 76 defendants whose alleged and proven crimes intended an estimated loss of revenue to the federal government of more than $490,000,000.

"My office is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who take money from American taxpayers for their own enrichment. No one is entitled to funds that are not theirs, and we commend the work of our law enforcement partners who made these guilty pleas possible," said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

"Most taxpayers work hard, play by the rules, and pay what they owe," said Marta C. Grijalva, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. "This father and son decided the rules didn't apply to them. They didn't just file false tax returns. They taught others how to cheat, recruited people into their scheme, and treated our tax system like their own personal payday. Every dollar stolen through fraud comes at the expense of honest taxpayers, and every scheme like this one chips away at the public's trust in a system we all depend on. IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners will keep digging, following the money, and holding accountable those who mistake the honor system for an invitation to steal."

According to documents and statements made in court, between June 2022 and October 2024, LaMar Javis Burgess, 44, and his son, LaMar Dazjar Burgess, 24, of the Minneapolis area, prepared and filed false federal income tax returns for themselves and others claiming refund amounts they and the other taxpayers were not entitled to receive. The defendants prepared and filed false 2021 tax returns claiming refundable sick and family leave tax credits available to certain self-employed individuals unable to work due to COVID-19. They also prepared and filed false 2022 tax returns claiming certain refundable tax credits.

During the conspiracy, LaMar Javis Burgess sought and obtained videos and instruction manuals educating himself on how to file false federal tax returns, including a guide titled "TurboTax Sauce The 'Self-Employed' Way." He worked with his son and others to promote the tax fraud scheme. In exchange for filing false tax returns, he charged taxpayers a $10,000 fee from a portion of their tax refunds.

Both the father and son solicited others to provide them with their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, photo identification and bank account information to enable them to prepare and file the false tax returns. The returns included employment and tax credit information they knew to be false.

In total, the defendants prepared or filed at least 300 false and fraudulent federal tax returns claiming at least $9.2 million in refunds.

During a search warrant executed at his home in Golden Valley, Minnesota, federal investigators found that LaMar Javis Burgess was in possession of a Glock model 19, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. The handgun contained a loaded fifteen round magazine. An empty magazine, an extended high-capacity magazine, and a high-capacity drum magazine were also found on the closet shelves, and loose ammunition rounds were in a bag inside the closet. The handgun was a reported stolen firearm. Because LaMar Javis Burgess has certain prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

LaMar Javis Burgess is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy and 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

LaMar Dazjar Burgess is also scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI, HSI, ATF, Minneapolis Police Department, Fridley Police Department, Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

Trial Attorney J. Parker Gochenour of the National Fraud Enforcement Division's Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Kline of the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.

This press release details one way in which this office has contributed to ensuring that all Americans pay their fair share. To see the successes of other offices, please see this press release here.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.