Detroit-area mortgage broker charged with conspiring to defraud the IRS

According to the indictment, from 2012 to 2018, Todd A. Marra of Shelby Township was a fifty-percent shareholder and co-managing partner of a mortgage brokerage in Troy, Michigan. During that time, Marra and another individual allegedly conspired to defraud the IRS by diverting more than $1.6 million in business proceeds.

The indictment alleges that Marra and his coconspirator withdrew cash shortly after depositing checks into the business's bank account and did not record all deposits and withdrawals on the business's books and records. Marra and his coconspirator allegedly used these business proceeds to pay for personal expenses and debts and then provided false records to their return preparer that underreported gross receipts and concealed the diversion of funds.

The indictment alleges that their actions caused the filing of false partnership returns that substantially underreported the business's gross receipts and overreported expenses, and also caused the filing of false personal income tax returns that substantially underreported Marra's income.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false tax return count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department's Tax Division made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte and Trial Attorney Catriona M. Coppler of the Justice Department's Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/detroit-area-mortgage-broker-charged-conspiring-defraud-irs-and-filing-false-tax-returns