Date: March 24, 2023 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Charlotte, NC — Tijan Mboob, a/k/a "TJ," a/k/a "Teejay McBoob," a/k/a "Sheikhtijan," of Charlotte, appeared in federal court today on tax fraud charges, announced Dena J. King U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Mboob was arrested on Thursday, after a federal grand jury returned a 20-count criminal indictment charging him with aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns over a five-year span. Donald "Trey" Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI) joins U.S. Attorney King in making today's announcement. "With tax season upon us, I urge taxpayers to exercise caution and use tax preparers who are qualified and authorized to prepare and file tax returns," said U.S. Attorney King. "Federal prosecutors and IRS criminal investigators work closely to uncover tax fraud and identify fraudulent tax preparers who violate our tax laws and compromise the integrity of our tax system." "As we approach the April 15 tax deadline, those who consider preparing false tax returns should be aware of the extremely negative consequences as evidenced today," said Special Agent in Charge Eakins. "It is important for people to have confidence that when they pay their taxes, their neighbors and co-workers are doing the same. Today's indictment 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." According to allegations in the indictment, beginning in at least 2014 through 2021, Mboob prepared or caused to be prepared hundreds of fraudulent tax returns that were submitted to the IRS. The indictment alleges that Mboob was a "ghost preparer," who failed to identify himself as a paid tax preparer on tax returns he prepared or submitted as required by the IRS, despite receiving payment from clients for his tax services. The indictment further alleges that Mboob prepared income tax returns for clients that included fabricated and fraudulent items, including false filing status, false American Opportunity and education credits, false itemized deductions and false reforestation credits, among others. Mboob's alleged inclusion of the fabricated and fraudulent items resulted in the reduction of his clients' tax liabilities and inflated refunds totaling more than $4.7 million. The indictment also alleges that Mboob refused to assist clients who received correspondence from the IRS questioning items on their tax returns that Mboob had prepared and filed. As alleged in the indictment, Mboob also failed to report any preparation fees he earned as income for tax years 2017 and 2020 and did not file any tax returns for tax years 2018 and 2019. Following his initial appearance in federal court, Mboob was released on bond. Each charge of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false tax returns carries a maximum prison term of three years and a $250,000 fine. The charges against Mboob are allegations. The defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today's announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked IRS-CI for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassye Cole and Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
