TAMPA, Fla. – A federal judge has handed down a sentence of six years and six months to Timothy Smith, Winter Haven, for his role in a sophisticated tax fraud operation that attempted to swindle the government out of millions. U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday delivered the sentence following Smith’s guilty plea in late 2025, marking the fourth major conviction in a sweeping investigation into fraudulent tax filings.
According to court records, Smith’s activity spanned from early 2023 through February 2024. During this window, Smith prepared or assisted with 97 fraudulent tax returns for 92 different clients, including himself.
The scheme relied on the fabrication of gambling winnings and losses, alongside fake federal tax withholding amounts, to trigger substantial refunds that the filers were never entitled to receive…