A Minneapolis father and son both pleaded guilty this month to their roles in a $9 million fraud conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen announced.
LaMar Javis Burgess, 44, and his son, LaMar Dazjar Burgess, 24, were charged this past June with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and six counts of making false claims in connection to preparing and filing false federal income tax returns for themselves and others between June 2022 and October 2024.
Additionally, the older Burgess was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office:
As part of the scheme, the pair claimed refund amounts they and the other taxpayers were not entitled to receive. The defendants prepared and filed false 2021 tax returns claiming refundable sick and family leave tax credits available to certain self-employed individuals unable to work due to COVID-19. They also prepared and filed false 2022 tax returns claiming certain refundable tax credits.
LaMar Javis Burgess sought and obtained videos and instruction manuals educating himself on how to file false federal tax returns and worked with his son and others to promote the tax fraud scheme. In exchange for filing false tax returns, he charged taxpayers a $10,000 fee from a portion of their tax refunds.
Both the father and son solicited others to provide them with their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, photo identification, and bank account information to enable them to prepare and file the false tax returns. The returns included employment and tax credit information they knew to be false.
In total, the defendants prepared or filed at least 300 false and fraudulent federal tax returns claiming at least $9.2 million in refunds.
During a search warrant executed at his home, the elder Burgess was found to be in possession of a Glock handgun with a loaded 15-round magazine. Additional magazines were located in the residence, including a high-capacity drum magazine. The gun was later discovered to be stolen.
LaMar Javis Burgess is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time due to certain prior convictions.
“My office is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who take money from American taxpayers for their own enrichment. No one is entitled to funds that are not theirs, and we commend the work of our law enforcement partners who made these guilty pleas possible,” said Rosen.
Both Burgesses pleaded guilty in separate hearings this month to conspiring to defraud the United States and will be sentenced at later dates.
LaMar Javis Burgess faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy and 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
LaMar Dazjar Burgess faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
The pleas were part of nationwide enforcement actions led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, Internal Revenue Service, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation targeting tax fraud and related offenses. The District of Minnesota was a key participant in this surge effort, the U.S. Attorney’s press release said.
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Minneapolis/Twin Cities Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
