Curtis L. Morris, of Elizabeth, has been permanently barred from preparing federal tax returns by a federal court in Denver, the U.S. Justice Department said today.
Chief U.S. District Judge Wiley Y. Daniel, issued an injunction to Morris and his business “Numbers & Beyond” after it was found that he was preparing tax forms claiming large, fraudulent returns.
The court found that Morris prepared tax forms based on phony claims of large tax withholding, the Justice Department said.
Morris’s scheme was based on the long-discredited “straw man” theory which, according to its proponents, allows taxpayers to access secret Treasury accounts to satisfy their tax liabilities, the court ruling said.
The court found that Morris made fraudulent refund claims exceeding $56 million.
Based on those tax returns the U.S. International Revenue Service issued $1.9 million in erroneous tax refunds.
In issuing his injunction, Judge Daniel said, “Defendant’s conduct is not isolated to a few returns, but rather extends to almost 150 returns in a two-year period.”
Morris has “not recognized his wrongful conduct or given sincere assurances against future violations,” Daniel said.
