Maine Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Returns for Clients
Official release from U.S. Department of Justice press releases, not original reporting. Charges are allegations unless a conviction is stated.
A Maine man pleaded guilty on October 7, 2026, to filing false tax returns for himself and others and defrauding clients by diverting a portion of their refunds to himself without their authorization.
According to court filings and statements made in court, Thierry Musese operated a tax preparation business out of an Auburn, Maine barbershop. For the 2021 and 2022 tax years, Musese prepared tax returns for clients that reported fabricated business losses, false fuel tax credits, and improper residential energy credits. These false items generated inflated refunds that the taxpayers were not entitled to receive. Additionally, Musese defrauded clients by diverting a portion of his clients’ tax refunds to himself without their knowledge or authorization. Musese continued preparing false returns even after the IRS revoked his electronic filing credentials. During this same period, Musese also filed false personal tax returns for himself.
Musese pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, one count of filing a false tax return and one count of wire fraud. Musese faces up to three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and filing a false tax return and up to twenty years in prison for the count of wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson for the District of Maine made the announcement. Trial Attorney Likhitha Butchireddygari of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Green for the District of Maine are prosecuting the case.
Source attribution
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases
Original source links
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases: Original source
About this story
Text of the official government release (public domain), quoted as published — attributed above. · Maine
Issued by: U.S. Department of Justice press releases. Selected by InstaBriefs for relevance to our readers; not original reporting or independent verification. Charges described are allegations unless a conviction is stated.
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