Posted on 02/20/2019 12:45:04 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
PHOENIX - A longtime advocate for immigrants in Arizona was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $131,000 in restitution for a felony conviction stemming from his tax preparation business.
Elias Bermudez had previously pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, acknowledging that he falsely added dependents, including three children who lived in Mexico, to his clients’ tax returns to maximize refundable credits.
Bermudez, 68, led protests more than a decade ago against immigration laws and then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s crackdowns on immigrants. He is known for kneeling down in front of Arpaio at a 2006 protest to ask the lawman to stop arresting immigrants, a request the sheriff denied.
Bermudez owned a business that helped immigrants prepare immigration and tax documents.
Authorities say Bermudez prepared 27 false income tax returns from 2010 through 2012 and encouraged clients to list family members living in Mexico, many of whom weren’t their children, as dependents.
Prosecutors say the IRS flagged Bermudez as an outlier for his use of refundable tax credits.
They said Bermudez told IRS agents in a recorded interview that he was previously targeted by state law enforcement for other services his business provided because of his advocacy for immigrants.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktar.com ...
If he was “naturalize citizen” then that should be revoked and he should be deported.
I have argued in other threads that the real danger of the immigration mess is we are ignoring the increasing mass of people who have benefited from breaking laws without consequences. There is no reason to assume those people will suddenly become law-abiding model citizens. It is respect for the rule of law that assures stability in our nation which is being shaken by this and the obvious different standards for different politicians.
Just the tip of the iceberg.
I’ve been arguing for the longest time that if Mexicans put half the energy into fixing their country that they do into destroying ours then maybe someday Mexico would be a place Mexicans wouldn’t have to run away from.
Undocumented income?
Just another of Barack’s, Nancy’s and Chuck’s Dreamers!
Meanwhile, millions of natural-born American citizens were ignored under Obama. And Jorge’s 2nd term.
“If he was “naturalize citizen” then that should be revoked and he should be deported.”
Totally agree.
Reminds me of the local “immigrant” “community leader” who narrowly escaped rape charges. He pled guilty to evidence tampering and unlawful detention. Turns out he was pals with the county prosecutor. Following the charges the media downgraded him to a “community activist”. Hopefully we won’t have to see his butt ugly face anymore.
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