Date: Jan. 17, 2024 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that David Etienne was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for a tax fraud offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, Etienne operated as a tax return preparer in Norwich through several businesses, including Los Maestros Inc, Los Maestros Group, Tax Experts USA, and Tax Experts USA Inc. For the 2012 through 2021 tax years, Etienne prepared numerous federal tax returns for clients. The returns included false expenses and losses in connection with sole proprietorship businesses when he knew the taxpayers had not operated sole proprietorship businesses, false unreimbursed employee expenses, and, in certain instances, false medical, dental or education-related expenses. Etienne's criminal conduct involved tax loss, affecting both the IRS and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, of approximately $600,000. On Sept. 5, 2023, Etienne pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return. Etienne who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on February 28. Restitution will be determined after additional court proceedings. This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.
