October 2025

Volume 126, Number 126

Jesus Zach Abikarram

Freedom Tax Resolution Times

“Read About Taxpayers with IRS Problems & Find Out How to Solve Them”

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Question
Why was the accountant always nervous?

Answer
Because he couldn’t handle the suspense accounts.

WA State Employee Steals $878K From Employer-Gets 18 Months

Matthew Ping was found guilty of filing a false tax return and defrauding his employer, the state of Washington, of almost $900,000.

Ping began working for the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) in 2009 and by 2017 had risen to management analyst and custodian of the department’s credit cards. From 2019 to 2023, he embezzled at least $878,115 by creating phony vendor accounts with payment processors. He disguised the accounts to look like legitimate OAH business partners, then charged them using state-issued credit cards.

Between 2019 and 2021, Ping funneled more than $330,000 through these fake accounts, followed by another $530,000 in 2021 alone using a different processor. He also used OAH credit cards for $17,359 in personal purchases from Verizon and Walmart. In total, he carried out 210 fraudulent transactions worth $878,115.

Much of the money went to fuel a gambling addiction, including at least six trips to Las Vegas, and paying off a vehicle loan. He failed to report the stolen funds on his tax returns, resulting in a tax loss of $240,247 between 2020 and 2023.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay more than 1.1 million dollars in restitution to the state, its insurer, and the IRS.

Tax Preparer Charges $20K per Return – IRS Collects its Share

James Meristin, a Florida tax preparer, was sentenced to three years in prison for filing false tax returns on behalf of his clients.

From 2019 to 2023, Meristin and his partners ran Kings and Queens Multi Services. They inflated refunds by exploiting ineligible claims, including COVID-related sick and family leave credits. Meristin’s team generated such high refunds, that they charged clients exorbitant fees, sometimes as high as $20,000 per return. Meristin also falsified his own tax filings.

In addition to the prison sentence, Meristin was ordered to pay $2,338,675 in restitution to the IRS.

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Tax Resolution Times

Fraudulent Accounting Gets Businessman Charged

Florida businessman Joseph Stewart was indicted for concealing millions in income and filing fraudulent tax returns.

From 2013 to 2021, Stewart collected more than 6.8 million dollars in dividends from his 50 percent ownership in a company that provided internet access to American military personnel and contractors overseas. He filed tax returns in the early days of the business, but stopped once the company was profitable.

When the IRS began sending notices in 2019, Stewart hired a tax attorney and preparers and lied to them. He claimed that more than 3.8 million dollars in dividends received between 2013 and 2018 were actually loans and therefore not taxable. He also claimed he didn’t know the company’s other shareholders. Based on these claims, the returns for 2013 to 2020 understated his income by millions.

Stewart faces up to five years in prison on each tax evasion charge and up to three years per false return charge, as well as restitution and fines.

Cocoa Executive Milks Mars For Over $28 Million

Paul Steed admitted to orchestrating a years-long fraud against his employer, Mars Wrigley, that cost the company more than 28 million dollars.

Between 2011 and 2023, Steed worked for Mars Wrigley, most recently as Global Price Risk Manager for its Global Cocoa Enterprise and oversaw Mars’ participation in a USDA Program. In 2016, he created a shell company, MCNA, designed to impersonate Mars Chocolate North America. Using this entity, he siphoned more than 15 million dollars by diverting payments into MCNA.

In 2017, Steed misused Mars’ ownership interest in Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). He directed Computershare, which handled ICE stock services, to send over $700,000 in dividends to MCNA. In 2023, he submitted a forged letter pretending to be from the Mars’ treasurer and ordered Computershare to sell all of Mars’ ICE shares. The resulting 11.3-million-dollar check went straight to his shell company.

From 2013 through 2020, Steed also billed Mars through another company, Ibera LLC, for services never provided, pocketing more than $700,000. He failed to report or pay taxes on any of the stolen income.

Steed agreed to repay 28.4 million dollars to Mars and owes 10.3 million dollars in back taxes. Authorities have seized more than 18 million dollars, a Greenwich home bought with 2.3 million dollars in stolen funds, and identified two million dollars transferred to Argentina. He faces a lengthy prison sentence.

Thank you!

Thanks to YOU, the word is spreading. Thanks to my clients and friends who graciously referred me to their friends, clients and relatives last month! I enjoy building my business based on the positive comments and referrals from people just like you.


I just couldn’t do it without you!

Tax Resolution Times

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Par for the Course – Twins Turn Tee Time into Jail Time

Identical twin brothers Se Youn “Steve” Kim and Hee Youn “Ted” Kim, both MRI technicians in California, were indicted for failing to report more than 1.1 million dollars in income, including profits from a golf tee-time brokering business.

Between 2021 and 2023, the Kims operated a business that reserved golf tee times online, often at public courses, and resold them at a markup, using platforms such as KakaoTalk to communicate with clients. They secured thousands of tee times nationwide, including at least 17 public courses in southern California. By monopolizing early morning slots in Los Angeles and Orange County, the brothers made it harder and more costly for golfers to book directly, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scheme brought in nearly $700,000 from resales alone. Clients often paid fees directly to the brothers’ Venmo and Zelle accounts, which were then transferred to personal bank accounts. Despite these earnings and their MRI salaries, the brothers failed to report more than 1.1 million dollars in income for tax years 2022 and 2023.

While failing to pay taxes, the brothers pursued a luxury lifestyle. They purchased a timeshare in Hawaii, luxury vehicles, and designer goods from brands like Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Prada.

They face prison, restitution and fines.

Are You My Next Client of the Month?

Every month I choose a very special Client of the Month. It’s my way of acknowledging good friends and saying “thanks!” to those who support me and my business with referrals, word of mouth and repeat business.

You might be my next Client of the Month too! Watch for your name here in an upcoming month.

Restaurant Owner Gets Served for Fraud

Domenico Mazzella, owner of Mazzella’s Italian Restaurant in Delaware, pleaded guilty to four counts of tax evasion and twelve counts of failing to collect, account for, and pay over trust fund taxes.

Between 2017 and 2020, Mazzella concealed the restaurant’s payroll and diverted business funds for personal use. He paid several employees entirely in cash and hid these payments from his tax preparer, avoiding employment taxes. In addition, Mazzella transferred more than $600,000 from the restaurant’s bank accounts into his personal account, disguising the withdrawals as business expenses.

Mazzella also inflated expenses, which caused his tax preparer to understate the restaurant’s actual income. This in turn led to significant underreporting of his own personal income on federal tax filings.

Mazzella agreed to pay restitution of $549,370.39 to the IRS, which included both unpaid income taxes and employment taxes. He faces up to five years in prison for each of the sixteen counts.

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Tax Resolution Times

Did You Know?

In 1882, the British made it illegal for Indians to collect or sell salt and imposed a heavy tax on the mineral. In 1930, Gandhi defied this law with the Salt March, leading followers to the sea to make salt and challenge the British.

Thank you for the Kind Words…

… I used one of those Runoff the Mill Tax Preparations firm and the preparer kept making it show like I had a loss in my business… I had no business and no loss… The IRS was billing me an outrageous amount. I learn of Freedom Tax Resolution, and they negotiated with the IRS for me. I’m very happy with their service.

-Earle G.

I’d Like to Hear From You!

If you have an IRS issue, or just want to refer a friend, relative or client, we’d love to hear from you. We can provide a no-obligation confidential consultation to help you solve your IRS problems.

Freedom Tax Resolution
600 W Hallandale Beach Blvd Ste 4
Hallandale Beach FL 33009
954-361-7400
jesus@freedomtaxresolution.com

Enter Our Trivia Contest for a Chance to Win a $250 Transferrable Gift Certificate!

Take the Trivia Challenge to win!

Each month, I’ll give you a new trivia question. The first THREE people who call my office with the correct answer win a free $250 reduction on any IRS service I provide. Your prize is also transferrable, so use it for yourself, or give it to a family member or friend. Take your best guess and call me at 954-361-7400

This month’s question is… 

Approximately how many pieces of candy corn are made every year?

a) 100 million

b) 9 billion

c) 380 million

d) 15 billion

Your IRS Questions Answered Here…

Question: I just received notices that owe the IRS $74,367 for several years of back taxes but do not have the money to pay them.  All I want to do is get them off my back and heard of something called an Offer in Compromise settlement.  What is it and how do I qualify?

Answer: An Offer in Compromise is a legal binding agreement between the taxpayer and the IRS that settles the full amount owed.  Many times, for a FRACTION of what’s owed. It’s the IRS’s version of a “fresh start” when it comes to IRS debt.  If approved, the IRS accepts a lesser amount to settle your entire debt.  However, it isn’t easy to gain approval due to its strict criteria and eligibility requirements.

The IRS considers your income, assets, expenses, ability to pay, and whether paying the full amount, even over time, would cause financial hardship. It’s important to remember that the IRS wants its money and will only accept an Offer in Compromise if it thinks it’s in the best interest of the government, and it wouldn’t receive any money otherwise.

Your odds for acceptance increase significantly when you have an experienced tax resolution specialist negotiating with the IRS on your behalf. If you do qualify, we get to work immediately by implementing a customized resolution plan that fits your unique circumstances.

We at Freedom Tax Resolution are experts in IRS tax problem resolution and help taxpayers with their IRS Problems every day. We know the “ins and outs” and know how to navigate the IRS maze. There is a solution to EVERY problem. Call us today! 954-361-7400 for a FREE, no-obligation confidential consultation!

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