Van Nuys H&R; Block manager pleads guilty to false refund charges

A former manager of an H&R; Block tax preparation office in Van Nuys pleaded guilty to charges that he used the identities of the firm’s clients to file false tax returns and get thousands of dollars in fraudulent refunds.

Damon Charles Dubose, 39, of North Hills pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing false claims with the Internal Revenue Service.

Dubose used his access to client records to file unauthorized tax returns for at least 12 people, generating more than $48,000 in fraudulent refunds, federal prosecutors said.

He filed the returns so that refunds would be loaded onto H&R; Block “emerald cards,” which he used to withdraw the money from ATMs, prosecutors alleged.

The charges Dubose pleaded guilty to carry a maximum possible sentence of 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, but his term would likely be significantly less under federal guidelines. Sentencing is scheduled for July 8 by U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer.

The investigation of Dubose was conducted by IRS criminal division in Los Angeles, with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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