Jeffrey Dixon, a tax preparer in Lakeland, Florida, traded on trust and deceit, constructing an elaborate scheme that ultimately landed him in federal prison. For over four years, he manipulated the tax system, fabricating gambling wins and losses to inflate refunds for himself and hundreds of clients.
Dixon pleaded guilty last summer to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and assisting in the filing of false tax returns. The consequences arrived on February 4th, 2026, with a sentence of four years and nine months behind bars – 57 months dedicated to reckoning with his crimes.
The scale of Dixon’s fraud was staggering. Between January 2019 and July 2023, he prepared or assisted in the preparation of 458 false returns for 319 taxpayers. Each return contained fabricated figures, designed to trigger unwarranted refunds from the IRS.
Had the scheme reached its full potential, the IRS would have been defrauded of over $42 million. While the actual loss was contained to $12,964,382, the damage was substantial, with funds improperly distributed to taxpayers, including Dixon himself.
Dixon didn’t just escape accountability with a prison sentence. The court ordered him to forfeit $1,093,552.50 – the entirety of his personal profit from the fraudulent activity. He is also responsible for full restitution of the $12,964,382 lost to the IRS.
Investigators emphasized the gravity of tax fraud, stating it’s not a shortcut but a direct path to imprisonment. The IRS Criminal Investigation team relentlessly pursues those who attempt to undermine the integrity of the tax system, ensuring justice is served.
The case, meticulously investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation division and prosecuted by dedicated Assistant United States Attorneys, serves as a stark warning. It demonstrates the severe repercussions awaiting those who exploit the system for personal gain.
