Former state rep could receive reduced sentence in tax fraud case

PROVIDENCE – The former state representative who earlier this month entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office from charges of tax and wire fraud could receive a reduced sentence for cooperation.
Leon F. Tejada, 50, of Providence, served as a member of the Providence City Council and represented District 11 as a member of the R.I. House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006. He’s charged with tax and wire fraud stemming from allegations that he knowingly falsified tax documents to increase refunds, which he diverted to his own bank account, according to court documents.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of Rhode Island has indicated it will ask for a reduced sentence if Tejada cooperates with the terms of a plea agreement.
“If [Tejada] pleads guilty pursuant to this agreement and cooperates with the government … at sentencing the government will recommend a term of imprisonment at the lowest end of the applicable guideline range,” according to the agreement.
Tejada has agreed to pay $79,427 in restitution, which includes $54,440 the government estimates it loss through the scheme and $24,987 he’s charged with taking from his clients, according to his plea agreement.
At the time of the alleged schemes, Tejada was running a Cranston Street tax preparation business called El Centro Multiservicios LLC. The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges he fabricated items on clients’ tax filings to inflate returns. He also falsified returns “to make it appear that the client would be getting a smaller refund that they were entitled to,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The former state rep faces one count of filing false tax returns, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. He also faces four counts of wire fraud, which each carry a 20-year maximum sentence.

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