June 2025

Volume 122, Number 122

Jesus Zach Abikarram

Freedom Tax Resolution Times

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

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Question
Why are accountants always tired
after work?

Answer
Because their
job is so taxing.

Tax Cheat Gets Four Years in Prison – Moves from a Big House to THE Big House

Walter Hass was sentenced to 48 months in prison for orchestrating a 3.5 million dollar payroll tax evasion scheme. The shipping and logistics company owner failed to collect and remit payroll taxes to the IRS from 2014 to 2022 while operating under three different company names in New Jersey.

Rather than paying the IRS, Hass funneled company funds into a lavish lifestyle fit for a jet-setter. He splurged on Aston Martins, McLarens, luxury watches and jewelry, designer clothing, tickets to major sporting events, exotic vacations, watersports vehicles, home renovations, and extravagant meals, all while stiffing the federal government out of millions.

But the fraud didn’t stop with finances. After pleading guilty, Hass launched a campaign of deceit to delay his sentencing. He faked a cancer diagnosis, submitting forged letters from doctors claiming he had kidney cancer to dodge court appearances. In reality, Hass was globe-trotting while concocting lies.

Royal Scam – Kings and Queens Takes IRS for a Ride

James Meristin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States through a tax prep scheme he ran from 2019 to 2023.

Operating under the name Kings and Queens Multi Services, Meristin and his team filed fraudulent returns exploiting COVID-related sick and family leave credits his clients weren’t eligible for, to score massive refunds. The refunds were so substantial, he charged some customers up to $20,000 per return.

Meristin also doctored his own returns, and is facing up to five years in prison. As part of a plea agreement, he agreed to pay the IRS $2,338,675 in restitution.

Page 2

Tax Resolution Times

Tax Dodger Can’t Dodge the IRS

Paul Archer pleaded guilty to dodging federal taxes and hiding assets during a bankruptcy case.

Archer ran a successful software installation business from 2013 to 2015, that raked in several million dollars. In 2016, after an IRS audit resulted in a one million dollar tax bill, Archer went off-grid, and began shuffling money through shell LLCs. He also started using bank accounts owned by his father and spouse to cover his tracks.

Between 2018 and 2019, Archer funneled over two million dollars in wire payments through a shell company, traded in crypto on multiple exchanges, and stashed assets via online platforms and investment accounts. He also shifted crypto worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in trades and payouts.

In March 2019, Archer filed for bankruptcy and claimed he had less than $50,000, a single checking account, and no connections to any LLCs. 

He faces up to five years in prison, $250,000 fines per charge, and three years of supervised release.

Accountant Poaches Millions from Egg Farm

Jonathan Weston, a former accountant for Hillandale Farms, in Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for masterminding a long-running embezzlement and tax fraud scheme.

Over the course of nearly 14 years, Weston siphoned off approximately 6.8 million dollars from the family-owned egg farm, laundering the funds through companies he co-owned, including candy stores and car washes.

Between 2005 and 2019, Weston and a co-worker, Victoria Petrulis, who died in 2019, used their insider access to drain company funds and mask them through businesses they controlled. Petrulis would steal checks meant for Hillandale and sell them to Weston at a discount, splitting the money. Weston failed to report the stolen funds on his tax returns, and some years didn’t file a return at all.

In addition to the prison sentence, Weston was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit a 2008 Aston Martin, a 1933 Ford Model 40 Coupe, a condominium, and multiple bank accounts. He was ordered to pay over eight million dollars in restitution, $6,870,128 to Hillandale Farms and $1,216,176 to the IRS.

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

Grapes of Fraud Winemaker’s Tax Scheme Gets Uncorked

Napa County vintner Brian Fleury pleaded guilty to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return for tax year 2016, but his scheme to cheat the US government went on for years.

From 2014 to 2018, Fleury and his spouse underreported $822,450 in income earned by their winery, Metropolitan Wines. Instead of routing customer payments through the business, Fleury instructed customers to write checks directly to him. Some invoices were marked OTB, short for off the books, and the funds were never reported to the IRS.

Fleury also skipped out on federal excise taxes tied to brandy production. Between 2007 and 2019, he filed false reports with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, claiming no wine was distilled or spirits sold. In truth, Fleury funneled nearly 4,000 gallons of wine to a distillery in 2007 alone, and received back more than 911 proof gallons of brandy.

Fleury sold vintage brandy produced in 2006, 2008, and 2009 for $350 a bottle, discreetly bottled in standard wine bottles to mask the transactions as wine.

The IRS estimates that Fleury owes $211,092 in back taxes. He faces up to three years in prison and restitution to 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.

From Dubai to Denial Attorney’s Tax Fraud Unravels

A former Washington D.C. attorney, Richard O’Donoghue, was indicted for failing to report approximately one million dollars in income, filing false tax returns and making false statements to federal authorities.

Between 2012 and 2015, O’Donoghue lived a lavish lifestyle as CEO of a Dubai-based defense contractor. Job perks included hefty bonuses, a chauffeur-driven car, and a rented luxury villa for his family.

When he hired a preparer, he downplayed his title, income, and company-paid expenses, claiming he was just a general manager. The result was false tax filings for 2012 to 2015 that underreported his income by about one million dollars, and triggered refund claims exceeding $247,000, most of which the IRS paid out.

The indictment also states that O’Donoghue lied to federal agents about his income during the investigation. He was arrested upon reentry to the US and faces up to five years per tax evasion count, three years per false tax return, and another five years for false statements, plus restitution, supervised release, and fines.

Page 4

Tax Resolution Times

Did You Know?

The IRS Code, combined with the interpretations and regulations (official guidance) expands to roughly
75,000 pages.
The original tax code, enacted in 1913, was 27 pages long.

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… 

According to Hallmark, approximately how many
graduation cards are sold every year?

a) 59 million

b) 32 million

c) 99 million

d) 108 million

Your IRS Questions Answered Here…

Question: I’ve heard that the IRS will take a reduced monthly payment amount to settle my tax debt in full. Is that true?

Answer: This is what is referred to as a monthly Installment Agreement Payment Plan. The IRS has several debt settlement options but it’s important to act before they garnish your paycheck and/or levy your bank account. 

There are several types of Installment Agreements.  One of them, is called the “Partial Pay Installment Agreement” (PPIA) where it’s possible to settle your outstanding balance owed the IRS for less.  It’s based on your monthly disposable income and how much time remains on the 10-year collection statute expiration date. The IRS can only collect on a debt for 10 years, so the older your IRS tax debt is, the more likely you may be able to qualify for a PPIA.  There are strict eligibility requirements that must be met, so the first step is to call us to see if you qualify.

We navigate the IRS maze for a living and know the “ins and outs” of the law.  That’s what we do every day. As a matter of fact, once we’re retained, you’ll never have to meet or speak with the IRS. We take care of all of that because we know that the worst thing you can do is represent yourself. That’s like going to court without a lawyer.  In the eyes of the IRS, you are guilty until proven innocent.

We at Freedom Tax Resolution are experts in IRS tax problem resolution and help taxpayers with their IRS Problems every day. There is a solution to EVERY problem. Call us today! 954-361-7400 for a FREE confidential consultation

Scroll to Top