Long Island Tax Preparer Convicted of Defrauding The Internal Revenue Service

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Frantzson Saintilien was convicted on all 18 counts of an indictment charging him with preparing false tax returns containing fictious fuel expenses, fictitious business expenses and losses, and fraudulent tax credits which reduced his clients' tax liability. The verdict was returned after a one-week trial before United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan. When sentenced, Saintilien faces up to 54 years in prison and financial penalties.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office (IRS-CI New York), announced the verdict.

"The defendant is a serial fraudster who was masquerading as a tax preparer, but instead of performing an important service, he victimized clients who trusted him and willfully stole government funds from the IRS," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "With today's verdict, Saintilien has been held accountable for his conduct and will face the consequences."

"Today's verdict reaffirms IRS-CI's commitment to protecting the U.S. Treasury and holding dishonest tax return preparers accountable for their conduct. The message is unmistakable: those who undermine the integrity of the tax system by facilitating the filing of false tax returns with egregiously fraudulent credits will be held responsible for their actions," stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis.

The charges in the indictment arise from Saintilien's role as a tax preparer at his multi-service business located at One Elmont Road in Elmont, New York. As proved at trial, in and between 2019 and 2023, for the tax years 2018 through 2022, Saintilien prepared false and fraudulent Forms 1040 and associated schedules and forms for clients that contained a variety of false claims, including that his clients (a) paid federal taxes on nontaxable uses of fuel on Forms 4136; (b) had incurred losses from the sale of assets on Forms 4797; and (c) incurred business expenses on Schedule C. As a result of these false and fraudulent claims, the IRS issued larger refunds to Saintilien's clients than they were in fact owed. In many cases, Santilien diverted funds from those improper refunds to himself without his clients' knowledge.

Based on the fraudulent returns charged in the Indictment alone, the defendant's conduct resulted in a loss of more than $100,000 to the IRS. In total, the government estimates that the defendant's scheme cost the government well in excess of one million dollars.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca Ann Sussman, Amanda Muros-Bishoff, and Joshua B. Dugan are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Tareva Torres.

The Defendant:

FRANTZON SAINTILIEN
Age: 65
Elmont, Long Island

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-391 (BMC)