Florida Resident Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Government Funds and Obstructing the IRS

A Ft. Myers, Florida man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing government funds and corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the internal revenue laws, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the Middle District of Florida.

According to documents filed with the court, Attila Kalmar filed 2007 through 2009 trust returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the name of First AK-Open Sec Trust, a nominee entity, seeking more than $480,000 in fraudulent refunds.  Kalmar deposited a refund check he received as a result of these filings into a bank account, and then used the proceeds to purchase real property, acquire thousands of dollars in gold coins, and wire money overseas.  Moreover, Kalmar attempted to impede the internal revenue laws by transferring funds between nominee bank accounts and falsely representing to the IRS that an IRS revenue officer was the trustee for First AK-Open Sec Trust.

In addition to the term of prison imposed, U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell ordered Kalmar to serve three years of supervised release, forfeit $274,019 and a piece of real estate to the United States, and pay $274,019 in restitution to the IRS.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Chapa Lopez commended special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys William M. Montague and Grace E. Albinson of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.