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On May 9, 2023, a Gloucester County man today admitted filing false claims against the IRS, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Christian L. Whittaker, 42, of Williamstown, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to one count of an indictment charging him with making false claims against the IRS.
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According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Whittaker knowingly and willfully prepared, electronically signed and filed with the IRS false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (Forms 1040) for the tax years 2016 to 2019.
Whittaker claimed that a business paid him significant wages and incurred substantial losses, when in fact the business was fictitious. Based on the false claims, the IRS paid more than $300,000 in refunds to Whittaker.
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More than $80,000 was paid by the IRS and garnished to pay debts that Whittaker had previously incurred.
Sentencing Date
The charge that Whittaker pleaded guilty to is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits or gross loss, whichever is greatest.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 13, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.