Date: April 7, 2022 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man was arrested by federal agents today on charges of filing false claims against the IRS, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Christian L. Whittaker, of Williamstown, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with making false claims against the IRS. He is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Skahill in Camden federal court. 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, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Whittaker knew the information contained in the returns was not true and correct as to every material matter. He used fraudulent income amounts and business losses to prepare the returns, which resulted in $372,278 in federal refunds being paid to or on behalf of Whittaker. In addition to filings with the IRS, Whittaker prepared, signed, and filed with the New Jersey Department of Treasury false state tax returns for the tax years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, with fictitious income, expenses, and withholdings, which would have paid Whittaker $49,208 in state refunds for tax years 2016 through 2019. However, the New Jersey Department of Treasury did not pay out any refunds to Whittaker for the tax years under investigation. The charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the IRS, under the direction of Michael Montanez, with the investigation leading to today's arrest.
