January 13 , 2006

MEMPHIS AREA RETURN PREPARERS INDICTED

Memphis, TN – Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today Xadimul Samba, 34, of Memphis, and James Holman, AGE, of Hernando, Mississippi, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Samba was named in 31 counts and Holman was charged in 11 counts of the indictment. Each faces up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count of the indictment.

According to the indictment, Samba and Holman operated tax preparation services in Memphis, Tennessee and Cincinnati, Ohio. The indictment charges that they prepared returns for individuals that claimed deductions for items that they well knew and believed the taxpayers were not entitled to claim in said amounts, but of lesser amounts. The indictment lists out 38 separate returns prepared by either Samba and/or Holman for the 2001 – 2003 tax years, along with the falsely claimed item. Most returns claimed either false Itemized Deductions (Schedule A) or false Business Deductions (Schedule C).

This investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Parker is handling the case for the United States.

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