AUGUSTA, Ga. () – A Richmond County man was sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for defrauding the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of over $1 million, according to the United States Department of Justice on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Allen Brown, 41, was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud conspiracy back in May 2025.

Brown has also been ordered to pay $1,003,631 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.

According to court documents, Brown and several individuals operated a “ghost” tax preparation business at 1850 Gordon Highway, Suite C in Augusta, Ga. and at two other Augusta locations including a church and Brown’s residence in 2022 and 2023.

The DOJ stated Brown did not identify himself as a paid preparer on the tax returns that he prepared and filed for clients, fabricated income to qualify clients for tax credits, claimed fake deductions to boost the size of the refund, and charged clients a fee based on a percentage of the tax refund. He also reportedly failed to provide clients with a copy of the tax returns he prepared, and didn’t review the returns with clients before electronically filing them with the IRS.

Brown’s actions resulted in 63 falsified federal income tax returns for clients, defrauding the U.S. Department of Treasury and causing them to issue $1,003,631 in false tax refunds, according to authorities.

“Tax preparers have a responsibility to accurately prepare tax returns on behalf of their clients.  Brown undermined the American tax system and the trust of taxpayers relying on his expertise,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap. “The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the serious nature of Brown’s conduct.  The criminal tax laws are designed to protect the integrity of the nation’s tax system and to obtain and preserve funds needed for public services. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia works closely with our partners at IRS Criminal Investigation to protect the law-abiding American public and the treasury by stopping this fraud.” 

In August 2025, 40-year-old Kim Brown was sentenced to 22 months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation and Filing of False Income Tax Returns.