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Fraudulent Lakeland tax preparer Jeffrey Dixon, who used fake gambling win and IRS fraud losses, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison after pleading guilty last summer.
The Florida native pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aiding and abetting the filing of false and fraudulent tax returns on August 5, 2025 and received his sentence of 57 months in federal prison on February 4, 2026.
As well as prison time, the court also asked Dixon to forfeit $1,093,552.50 to forfeit the proceeds of the criminal conduct and pay restitution in the amount of $12,964,382.00 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Dixon’s fraudulent activities occurred between January 2019 and July 2023, during which the tax preparer ran a scheme to defraud the IRS. He prepared or helped prepare 458 false tax returns for 319 taxpayers, including himself, using fraudulent figures for gambling winnings and losses. Falsified tax returns claim refunds from the IRS that they are not actually entitled to.
“Tax fraud is not a shortcut – it’s a fast track to prison,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “IRS Special Agents work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the tax system and ensure that those who steal from the American public face justice. IRS Special Agents will continue to pursue anyone who thinks they can game the system.”
The effect of Dixon’s cunning scheme
If the scheme went ahead as planned, Dixon would have defrauded $42,359,399. The actual loss to the IRS was $12,964,382, paid to taxpayers including Dixon as refunds or credits applied to other debts. Dixon personally made a profit of $1,093,552.50.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, before being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Roberts and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture of the assets was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commonslicensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
The post Lakeland tax preparer sentenced for gambling-related federal tax fraud first appeared in ReadWrite.
