Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2008
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
TAX
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

Texas Man Barred from Promoting Tax Fraud Schemes and Preparing Tax Returns for Others

WASHINGTON – The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas has barred Thell G. Prueitt of Kingsland, Texas, from preparing federal tax returns for others and from promoting various tax fraud schemes, the Justice Department announced today. The court found that Prueitt promoted his schemes through several companies and organizations he operates, including Grandview Prayer and Healing Retreat Center, Fresh Start Funding Group, Fresh Start Funding Group Taxpayer Education Association and Thell G. Prueitt & Friends.

The court found that Prueitt promoted a home-based business tax scheme, falsely advising customers they could claim tax deductions for non-deductible personal expenses, and claiming fraudulent deductions on tax returns he prepared. The court also found that he promoted an ATM and pay phone tax scam, falsely advising customers that they could claim tax credits and deductions based on artificially inflated purchase prices.

The court order requires Prueitt to notify his customers of the injunction and to give the Justice Department a list of his customers’ names, addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers.

Since 2001, the Justice Department has obtained injunctions against more than 305 tax preparers and tax-fraud promoters. More information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website, as is information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

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