Photo Courtesy of Google
Defendant Yachun Lin worked at ETS Tax Services in this building on Main Street in Flushing.
By Forum Staff
Three Queens tax preparers have been charged with allegedly knowingly including false information on tax returns that lowered the tax burden for clients while also cheating the City and State out of thousands of dollars, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Thursday.
Yachun Lin, 53, has been arraigned on a complaint charging her with criminal tax fraud in the fifth degree, offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, attempted grand larceny in the third and fourth degree, and forgery in the second degree. The defendant was ordered to return to court on April 27.
According to the charges, on March 22, 2019, an undercover investigator met with Lin at ETS Tax Services on Main Street in Flushing. Identifying himself with the fictitious name “Alex Zhukov,” the undercover agent provided Lin with a Social Security number, a Brooklyn home address, and W-2 forms. He told the defendant that he needed tax returns completed for 2017 and 2018.
Lin allegedly looked over the man’s tax return for 2016 and stated he owed so much money because his employer did not withhold City taxes from his paycheck. The defendant allegedly suggested the man use the address of a friend or family member who lives outside of the five boroughs—stating this would save him $2,000 per year. The undercover investigator came up with a Westchester County address and Lin allegedly filled out his tax returns using the address she knew was not his residence. She also allegedly forged her client’s signature on the return—and left the space for a professional tax preparer’s information blank.
The bogus information on the tax return, according to the charges, allowed the “client” to hold on to
$2,156 for 2016 and $2,319 in 2017.
If convicted, Lin faces up to 18 years in prison.
Maria Isabel Chabur, 49, and her husband Nayib Chabur, 62, have been arraigned on a complaint charging them with criminal tax fraud in the fifth degree, offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, attempted petit larceny, conspiracy in the fifth degree, and forgery in the second degree. The pair has been ordered to return to court on April 19.
According to the charges in the Chaburs’ case, an undercover investigator on March 27, 2019, entered La Oficina En Astoria on 69th Street in Woodside and asked for assistance filing a tax return for 2018. This investigator, who called herself “Carmen Guzman”—also a fictitious name—provided a Social Security number, W-2 form and a tax return for the previous year.
DA Katz said that the Chaburs filed a tax return on behalf of Guzman, allegedly including a $5,500 IRA deduction that was not true and not even discussed with the filer. Maria Isabel Chabur is also accused of signing for her “client” and leaving the required space for professional tax preparer signature blank. The alleged scheme only saved Guzman just under $500.
If convicted, the Chaburs each face up to 9 years in prison.
