Area tax preparer convicted in $4 million tax fraud scheme

FORT MYERS — A federal jury recently convicted a Collier County tax preparer of 12 counts of filing false claims against the Internal Revenue Service and three counts of making or subscribing to false tax returns, according to a statement. 

Augustin Dalusma faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for each count of filing a false claim and up to three years imprisonment for each count of making a false tax return, the Department of Justice news release states. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2020. Dalusma was indicted Sept. 26, 2018.