Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 3-1-19

Local
Pastor, Daughter Must Pay $11 Million In Tax Fraud Case
A Tampa pastor and his daughter pleaded guilty to tax fraud Thursday. A sen- tencing date has not been set.
Luckner Stimphil, 55,
of Brandon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. His daughter, Elwolfine Dufort, 31, of Riverview, pleaded guilty on
ing any person in the prepa- ration of federal tax returns.
According to court docu- ments, Stimphil, the then- pastor at First Calvary Family Life Ministry located on Mar- tin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Tampa, created and operated Top Popular Tax, a tax return preparation business with of- fices in Tampa, Winter Haven, and elsewhere.
The business operated from 2011 through at least mid-2015. There, Stimphil, his daughter, and others working under Stimphil’s supervision, routinely as- sisted in and advised clients in the preparation and pres- entation of tax forms to the IRS, which included materi- ally false and fraudulent in- formation.
Some of the information submitted on Forms 1040 also included a false and fraudulent claim for a credit for federal tax on fuels on Form 4136.
PASTOR LUCKNER STIMPHIL
February 21, 2019, for her role in the conspiracy.
Stimphil and Ms. Du- fort each face a maximum penalty of five years in fed- eral prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Stimphil and Ms. Du- fort have also agreed to pay more than $11 million in restitution to the U. S. De- partment of the Treasury re- lating to the conspiracy.
Stimphil also consented to pay all taxes, interest, and
ELWOLFINE DUFORT
penalties found to be owed and due to the IRS relating to his personal tax returns for years 2012 and 2013.
Stimphil and Ms. Du- fort have also agreed to be permanently barred from preparing or assisting in the preparation or filing of fed- eral tax returns for any other person or entity; from main- taining any association with a tax return preparation busi- ness; and from instructing, teaching, or otherwise train-
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