The scheme cost the government more than $97,000
NEWARK-- A man who prepared tax returns in Middlesex County has pleaded guilty to one count of making a false claim, the IRS said in a statement.
Mach Worotikan, 56, is scheduled to be sentenced in June.
In 2010 and 2011, Worotikan offered to prepare returns for little or no money, including a return a 2009 tax year return for a man referred to in a statement as A.L. Worotikan prepared a W-2, then added fraudulent dependents, false childcare and dependent expenses, fraudulent student-loan interest and other phony claims.
Worotikan then had the return mailed to a post office box he controlled in order to collect the refund check, which he cashed at a check-cashing business.
Worotikan received A.L's refund check, cashed the refund check at a check cashing business and kept the money for himself.
His scheme is estimated to have cost the government more than $97,000 in lost revenue, authorities said.