March 2026

Volume 131, Number 131

Jesus Zach Abikarram

Freedom Tax Resolution Times

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

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

“Death, taxes and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them.”

Margaret Mitchell

Another Tax Preparer Sentenced to 7 ½ Years and Ordered to Pay IRS Over $15 Million Restitution

George Tucker, Jr. was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aiding in the filing of false and fraudulent tax returns.

Court records show that from March 2021 through February 2024, Tucker prepared or helped to prepare 316 false tax returns for 196 taxpayers, including himself, covering tax years 2020 through 2023. The filings included falsified Schedules A, B, 1, and 3, along with fraudulent Forms W-2G that listed fabricated gambling winnings, losses, and federal tax withholdings (based on the fake gambling winnings).

The total tax loss from Tucker’s scheme was $59,941,751. The IRS ultimately paid out $15,028,309.89 in refunds or credits toward prior debts. Tucker personally profited $1,354,757.64 through client payments and refunds issued directly to him. He used the proceeds to enrich himself, including purchasing expensive jewelry.

Tucker was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison and was ordered to forfeit $1,354,757.64 in criminal proceeds and to pay $15,028,309.89 in restitution to the IRS.

Compliance Officer Didn’t Comply with Tax Laws

Rick Goodling pleaded guilty to tax evasion after he admitted to underreporting his taxable income during tax years 2019–2022.

Goodling was a compliance officer for Pace-O-Matic, a Georgia-based skill games manufacturer. He admitted to receiving cash payments from skill machine operators throughout Pennsylvania in exchange for allowing continued use of Pace-O-Matic products in violation of company policies and regulations.

Goodling and others formed consulting businesses to falsely categorize the cash payments as business travel expenses. The IRS estimates a tax loss of more than $100,000. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Page 2

Tax Resolution Times

Mining Boss Digs Himself into a Hole

The owner of a coal company, John Quintrell, pleaded guilty to six counts of willful failure to collect or pay over tax after admitting he failed to pay 22 million dollars in federal taxes.

Quintrell owned Civil LLC, a mining business, from September 2018 through April 2025. As owner, he was responsible for withholding federal and state taxes, Medicare and Social Security taxes from his employees’ paychecks. However, for tax years 2019 through 2024, he did not file required returns on behalf of the company, and although he withheld more than 22 million dollars in federal income and payroll taxes from his employees, he did not pay over the money to the government.

The plea agreement came one month after Quintrell was sued by Indemnity National Insurance Company, which is seeking more than 17 million dollars after accusing Quintrell of unjust enrichment and breach of contract.

He faces up to four years in prison and must pay more than 22 million dollars in restitution to the IRS.

Attorney Trades Yacht for Prison After Evading Taxes for 15 Years

Former Attorney Robert Powell was found guilty of tax evasion tied to legal fees he earned and hid.

Powell attempted to avoid paying taxes owed for 2016 by using nominee bank accounts held in others’ names, directing an accountant to request a filing extension falsely claiming zero estimated tax liability, and making false statements during a 2019 IRS audit. In total he failed to file tax returns for approximately fifteen years while earning more than 18 million dollars during that time.

Powell is no stranger to breaking the law. In 2009 he pleaded guilty to multiple felonies involving bribes paid to two judges, that included instructing the judges on how to hide the money from the IRS, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. His law license was suspended and he was disbarred in 2015. Although he relinquished ownership of The Powell Law Group, he retained rights to 90% of certain future fees.

Powell used the fees he earned and placed in nominee accounts for luxury vehicles, a 1.25 million dollar yacht, private school tuition, and a 2.65 million dollar home with more than one million dollars in renovations.

He was sentenced to 48 months in prison and agreed to pay $3,500,000 in restitution.

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

Page 3

Con Man Has Trust Issues with the IRS – They Don’t Trust Him

Clarence Ward, also known as Khaled Yaqud Mansur-El, was convicted of one count of wire fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false claim to the IRS.

In November 2020, Ward electronically filed a tax return for a trust in his name falsely claiming the trust had paid more than seven million dollars in taxes in 2019. He requested a 4.1 million dollar refund from the IRS, even though records showed the trust had never paid any federal taxes.

Before the IRS realized the information on the tax return was false, it issued the 4.1 million dollar refund. Ward quickly spent the funds. He purchased four residential properties in Chattanooga, Tennessee for approximately $1,584,300, and a luxury automobile. He also invested some of the money in brokerage accounts.

Ward was ordered to forfeit the four properties after it was determined they were purchased with fraud proceeds and involved in money laundering.

He was sentenced to five years in federal prison and ordered to return the $4,197,981.28 paid to him by the IRS.

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.

Pizza Kitchen Owner Keeps the Dough from the IRS

Cihan Calkap pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion in connection with his operation of Mimmo’s Pizza and Kitchen in Philadelphia. He is accused of evading 1.8 million dollars in taxes.

Between 2015 and 2019, the restaurant generated significant income and employed a large staff. Instead of depositing all business receipts into company bank accounts, Calkap took the cash from the restaurant and used it to pay himself and most of his staff in cash.

He gave his accountant access only to bank records that excluded the majority of the restaurant’s cash income, and as a result, false corporate and personal tax returns were filed with the IRS.

From 2015 to 2018, Mimmo’s receipts were underreported by millions of dollars. Calkap also told his preparer the business had only four employees, including himself, when in reality it employed 25.

He faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution and a $250,000 fine.

Page 4

Tax Resolution Times

Did You Know?

In 2006, China introduced a 5% tax on disposable wooden chopsticks to combat deforestation. The country was producing 45 billion pairs of chopsticks yearly.
The tax encouraged the use of reusable, non-wood alternatives, but caused such significant price increases, it prompted Japan to look for new suppliers.

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… 

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland was held in 1903.
Where was the very first parade held in 1601?

a) London, England

b) Florida, United States

c) Madrid, Spain

d) Lima, Peru

Your IRS Questions Answered Here…

Question: I’ve been getting threatening notices from the IRS recently. I think can pay the tax due but would like these ridiculous penalties and interest charges waived. Does the IRS waive penalties? What can I do to get these removed from my account?

Answer: There are several different ways the IRS removes or reduces penalties. One option is called First Time Penalty Abatement (”FTA”), but you must have a “clean record” for the previous 3 years prior to the year you’re requesting relief on.

The other way to obtain abatement is due to “reasonable cause.” The IRS has some nine different reasonable-cause defenses you can apply under. One of them, for example, is death, serious illness, or unavoidable absence. It only covers immediate family members, and the issue must be addressed in a reasonable amount of time after the illness or death. You’ll need to show other obligations weren’t paid-not just the taxes. You’ll also need written proof of the illness or death. This must be requested via a formal letter to the IRS written in a very specific format. Call us to see if any of the other 8 arguments apply to you.

We at Freedom Tax Resolution are experts in IRS tax problem resolution and penalty abatement. We help taxpayers with their IRS Problems every day. There is a solution to EVERY problem. You’ll never have to speak or meet with the IRS once we’re in the picture! Call us today! 954-361-7400 for a FREE confidential consultation.

Scroll to Top