Former H&R; Block manager gets prison for filing false returns

A former manager of an H&R; Block tax preparation office in the San Fernando Valley was sentenced to one year in federal prison for using the identities of his company’s clients to file false income tax returns and steal the refunds.

Damon Charles Dubose, 40, who worked as a manager at an H&R; Block office in Van Nuys, had pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud and filing false tax returns.

He acknowledged using personal information of the firm’s clients — including names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers — to file at least 12 false and unauthorized returns that generated more than $48,000 in refunds.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer at the federal courthouse in Los Angeles.

Dubose filed the returns so that refunds would be loaded onto Master Cards, which he then used to make cash withdrawals at ATMs, prosecutors alleged.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies arrested Dubose in February 2012 after finding him standing near ATMs wearing a beanie, scarf and nylon stocking covering his face.

The investigation of Dubose was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles field office, with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

ALSO:

Air Force aims to land more top guns amid pilot shortage

Working during summer vacation? So are 61% of Americans

UBS agrees to settle U.S. claims it misrepresented mortgage bonds

Follow Stuart Pfeifer on Twitter