A Peoria man pled guilty to cheating the federal government of nearly $2 million in COVID-related tax claims.
The plea deal of Leslie Victor Gentry, 54, was announced Wednesday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. Gentry “knowingly prepared and submitted 14 false Form 941 tax returns for tax years 2020 and 2021.”
The attorney’s office stated that Gentry submitted tax returns for two businesses owned by himself and his wife, but the businesses were not active at the time. These tax returns claimed COVID tax credits for wages paid to non-existent employees.
Gentry apparently admitted the companies had no employees and that wages were never paid.
According to court records, Gentry’s scam won him more than $1.8 million in COVID-related tax credits.
Gentry is expected to be sentenced on July 13. A conviction may result in a five-year jail sentence, a $250,000 fine, and restitution to the IRS, according to federal prosecutors.
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