Date: November 7, 2022 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Memphis, TN — Three individuals, Robert L. Pryor, Elaine Pryor, and Joshua L. Pryor have been sentenced for preparing and filing false tax returns under the business name Better Dayz Tax Services, LLC. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentences today. According to information presented in court, Robert L. Pryor owned a tax-preparation business, Better Dayz Tax Services, LLC, in Memphis, Tennessee. His wife Elaine Pryor and his brother Joshua L. Pryor also worked at Better Dayz. He and his co-defendants prepared false income tax returns for clients and for themselves, resulting in fraudulent tax refunds and total lost tax revenue of more than $122,000 over three years. Each defendant pled guilty to one count of preparing a false tax return. On October 12, 2022, United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Robert L. Pryor to a total of 15 months in federal prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Pryor may not own or operate a tax preparation business or engage in tax preparation services during his supervised release. Pryor also was ordered to pay restitution of $57,672.00. On October 12, 2022, Judge McCalla sentenced Joshua L. Pryor to three years of federal probation and ordered him to pay restitution of $25,064.00. Joshua Pryor may not own or operate a tax preparation business or engage in tax preparation services during his probation. On November 4, 2022, Judge McCalla sentenced Elaine Pryor to six months in federal prison, to be followed by 18 months of supervised release. Six months of her supervised release term must be served on home detention, and she may not own or operate a tax preparation business or engage in tax preparation services during her supervised release. She also was ordered to pay restitution of $57,853.59. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Ritz, said "I hope these sentences send a message to others who are robbing the government through fraudulent tax practices that their illegal acts will not go unchecked." "Those who might consider preparing false tax returns should be aware of the extremely negative consequences as evidenced today," said Donald "Trey" Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Charlotte Field Office. "Today's sentencing of the defendants again emphasizes that the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorney's office will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who would attempt to defraud America's tax system." This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Murre Foster, who prosecuted this case.
