United States of America v. Kyle et al, No. 3:2007cv02187 - Document 47 (S.D. Cal. 2008)
Court Description: ORDER granting USA's 44 Motion to Alter Judgment Against Roosevelt Kyle. Signed by Judge Irma E. Gonzalez on 9/15/2008. Prior Default Judgment is amended and permanent injunction is entered against Roosevelt Kyle. USA is permitted to engage in post-judgment discovery to ensure compliance w/ the permanent injunction. This Court shall retain jurisdiction for purpose of implementing and enforcing this Order. (jah)
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United States of America v. Kyle et al Doc. 47 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 12 13 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Plaintiff, v. ROOSEVELT KYLE, individually or d/b/a CENTURY ONE RESORTS, LTD or CENTURY ONE ASSOCIATES; REBECCA TYREE a/k/a/ RUBEE TYREE or RUBY TYREE; COA FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC d/b/a COA FINANCIAL NETWORK TRUST c/o T&N FASHION; and EAGLE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC 21 Defendants, 22 ROOSEVELT KYLE, 23 Third-Party Plaintiff 24 v. 25 26 27 JOHN R. MONROE, DOES 1 THROUGH 1000 Third-Party Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No. 07-cv-2187-IEG-NLS ORDER GRANTING UNITED STATES’ MOTION TO ALTER OR AMEND JUDGMENT AGAINST ROOSEVELT KYLE AND AMENDED JUDGMENT 28 2980903.1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 2 3 Upon motion by Plaintiff, the United States of America, the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law and enters this permanent injunction. Plaintiff United States filed its complaint for permanent injunction under sections 7402, 4 7407, and 7408 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. or I.R.C) on November 15, 2007, 5 seeking to bar Roosevelt Kyle from preparing income tax returns for others. Default judgment 6 against Roosevelt Kyle was entered on July 11, 2008, because Mr. Kyle’s repeatedly failed to 7 comply with the Court’s scheduling and pre-trial orders and failed to appear at several noticed 8 hearings. Having reviewed the record in this case, the Court grants the United States’ motion to 9 alter or amend, makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law, amends the prior 10 default judgment, and enters this permanent injunction against Roosevelt Kyle. 11 12 13 14 Findings of Fact 1. Kyle resides in San Diego, California, in this judicial district and does business in this judicial district. 2. Kyle has prepared tax returns for others for compensation since 1983, with the 15 exception of 2006 when he was incarcerated in federal prison for willfully failing to file federal 16 income tax returns. 17 3. Over the last eight years, Kyle has operated his tax preparation business using 18 several entities or names, including Century One Resorts, COA Financial Group, LLC, and 19 Eagle Financial Services, LLC. Kyle stopped personally signing returns in 2004, but Kyle still 20 interviews customers and prepares returns that are signed by others. He does this to thwart IRS 21 efforts to detect his illegal conduct. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2 2980903.1 1 2 3 4. The following numbers of returns were filed under the Employer Identification Numbers of the entities listed in paragraph 3 above and under Kyle’s identification number: 5 Number Returns Filed by Entity from 2000-2007: 6 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007* 4 Name of Person/Entity 7 Roosevelt Kyle 1572 1632 1864 136 12 2 1 5 8 Century One Resorts 0 0 0 1451 2511 57 4 2 COA Financial Network Trust/COA Financial Group, LLC 0 0 0 0 0 2527 34 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 1136 9 10 11 12 13 Eagle Financial 0 Services, LLC * As of September 27, 2007 14 15 16 17 18 19 Kyle’s Tax Preparation Business 5. On average Kyle and his businesses prepared and filed approximately 1,500 returns per year since 2000. 6. Kyle most recently operated his business from 2414 Hoover Avenue, National City, CA 91950, in the San Diego metropolitan area. 7. Kyle, individually and through the named entities, prepares federal income tax 20 returns that unlawfully understate his customers’ tax liabilities, most commonly by fabricating or 21 inflating deductions on IRS Form 1040 Schedule A, “Itemized Deductions,” and Schedule C, 22 “Profit or Loss from Business.” 23 8. As a direct result of Kyle’s fraudulent return preparation, his customers’ filed 24 federal income tax returns understate their federal income tax liabilities and claim large income 25 tax refunds to which they are not entitled. 26 27 IRS’s Investigation 9. As of September 26, 2007, the IRS has examined over 200 returns prepared 28 3 2980903.1 1 between 2002 and 2007 by Kyle individually and under the auspices of Century One Associates, 2 COA Financial Network, or Eagle Financial Services. The examinations revealed that all but 3 approximately eight of the returns understated the customer’s tax liability. 4 10. Customers consented to the IRS’s adjustments on approximately 127 of the 5 examined returns. The total of the agreed tax understatements on those returns was $419,725 6 which was an average understatement of approximately $3,304 per return. 7 11. In 2007 the IRS conducted an undercover investigation of Kyle and his tax 8 preparation business, which he operated as Eagle Financial Services, LLC. An IRS undercover 9 agent posed as a customer and paid Kyle to prepare a tax return. Kyle conducted the tax 10 preparation interview with the undercover agent, but the return was signed by Rebecca Tyree, 11 Kyle’s office manager and business associate. The return Kyle prepared for the undercover 12 agent fabricated employee business expenses and charitable deductions. 13 14 15 12. The estimated tax loss caused by Kyle’s misconduct between 2002 and 2007 is approximately $18 million. 13. Kyle has known about the IRS’s investigations of his tax preparation business and 16 activities since at least 1987, but has repeatedly and continually engaged in improper and 17 enjoinable conduct. 18 14. 19 20 In 1987 the IRS assessed against Kyle two preparer penalties under 26 U.S.C. § 6694 for conduct occurring in 1983 and 1984. 15. Kyle willfully, intentionally, and/or recklessly understates his customers’ income 21 tax liabilities by preparing returns that improperly contain fabricated or inflated deductions on 22 IRS Form 1040, Schedules A and C. 23 24 Inflated or Bogus Schedule A Employee Business Expenses 16. Kyle continually and repeatedly prepares federal income tax returns claiming 25 inflated or bogus Schedule A unreimbursed employee business expenses to offset customers’ 26 Form W-2 wage income. 27 17. Approximately 167 of the returns the IRS examined contained inflated or 28 4 2980903.1 1 2 unsubstantiated Schedule A unreimbursed employee business expenses. 18. For example, in 2007 Kyle (under the auspices of Eagle Financial Services) 3 prepared for an undercover IRS agent who posed as a customer a return on which Kyle 4 fabricated over $7,300 of unreimbursed employee business expenses, including over $1,900 of 5 bogus laundry and cleaning expenses. Although Kyle did not sign the return, he conducted the 6 interview with the undercover agent. Kyle promised the undercover agent that Kyle would use 7 his “creative” mind to reduce the undercover agent’s tax liability. 8 9 10 11 19. On customer Eva Leomo’s 2003 return, Kyle fabricated over $5,000 of employee business expenses, including over $1,600 of bogus laundry and upkeep expenses. The customer never incurred those expenses and is unaware of how Kyle arrived at the amounts claimed. 20. Kyle fabricated employee business expenses on the 2006 return of Ofelia and 12 Juan Uriarte. The Uriartes’ 2006 return falsely reported that Mrs. Uriarte incurred business 13 travel expenses of approximately $4,710. The Uriartes provided no information to Kyle to 14 support this claim and in fact Mrs. Uriarte did not incur any business travel expenses. On the 15 Uriartes’ Form 2106, “Unreimbursed Employee Business Expenses,” Kyle also falsely claimed 16 that the customer had written evidence to support the reported travel expenses. Kyle also falsely 17 claimed on the return over $2,400 for “work clothes and upkeep” expenses. The Uriartes agreed 18 to the IRS’s adjustments to their 2006 return. 19 20 21 22 23 24 Inflated or Bogus Charitable Contributions 21. Roosevelt Kyle continually and repeatedly prepares federal income tax returns claiming inflated or bogus charitable contributions. 22. Approximately 180 of the returns Kyle and/or his businesses prepared and the IRS examined contained inflated or unsubstantiated deductions for charitable contributions. 23. Kyle fabricated charitable contribution deductions on the IRS undercover agent’s 25 2006 return (prepared in 2007). The IRS undercover agent gave Kyle no information to support 26 a claim for charitable deductions, yet the undercover agent’s return claimed a $2,000 27 contribution to the Girl Scouts and a $500 non-cash contribution to Goodwill. 28 5 2980903.1 1 2 3 24. On the 2003 return that Kyle prepared for Eva Leomo he fabricated over $3,500 of charitable contributions including a reported $500 non-cash contribution to Goodwill. 25. Kyle also inflated charitable contributions on the 2006 return he prepared for the 4 Uriartes. The Uriartes gave Kyle documentation of cash contributions to their church. However, 5 Kyle prepared the return claiming a deduction for cash charitable contributions exceeding the 6 amount supported by the Uriartes’ documentation and containing fabricated non-cash 7 contributions to Goodwill in the amount of $500. The Uriartes agreed with the IRS’s 8 adjustments disallowing those charitable contribution deductions. 9 10 11 12 13 14 Inflated or Bogus Schedule C Business Expenses 26. Kyle and his tax preparation business continually and repeatedly prepared federal income tax returns claiming inflated or bogus Schedule C business expenses. 27. Approximately 138 of the returns the IRS examined contained inflated or unsubstantiated Schedule C business expenses. 28. For example, Eva Leomo’s 2003 return that Kyle prepared (using the business 15 name COA Financial Network) claimed more than $2,000 in fabricated deductions for Schedule 16 C business expenses. Ms. Leomo did not incur these expenses and did not give Mr. Kyle 17 information to support claimed deductions for these expenses. 18 19 20 21 Failing to Sign Returns and to Provide Identification Numbers 29. Between 2004 and 2007, Kyle has repeatedly failed to sign returns that he has prepared for others. 30. Kyle’s failure to sign returns that he has prepared substantially interferes with the 22 IRS’s ability to properly enforce and administer internal revenue rules and regulations, including 23 those that regulate the conduct of income tax return preparers. 24 25 26 27 31. In addition to failing to sign returns he prepared, between 2003 and 2007 Kyle repeatedly failed to provide a preparer identification number on the returns he prepared. 32. By failing to provide a preparer identification number, Kyle substantially interferes with the IRS’s ability to properly enforce and administer internal revenue rules and 28 6 2980903.1 1 regulations, including those that regulate the conduct of income tax return preparers. 2 3 4 Conclusions of Law 33. This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1340 and 1345 and Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C., 26 U.S.C.) §§ 7402(a), 7407, and 7408. 5 34. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391. 6 35. I.R.C. § 7407 authorizes a district court to enjoin an income tax return preparer from: 7 (A) engaging in conduct subject to penalty under I.R.C. §§ 6694 or 6695; or 8 (B) engaging in any fraudulent or deceptive conduct that substantially interferes with the 9 proper administration of the internal revenue laws, 10 11 if the court finds that injunctive relief is appropriate to prevent recurrence of such conduct. 36. If a court finds that the preparer’s misconduct is continual or repeated, and that a 12 narrower injunction prohibiting only the specific conduct would not be sufficient to prevent the 13 preparer’s interference with the proper administration of the internal revenue laws, I.R.C. § 7407 14 authorizes the court to enjoin the preparer from preparing returns altogether. 15 37. I.R.C. § 6694(a) penalizes a return preparer who understates a customer’s liability 16 based on a position for which there is no realistic possibility of being sustained on the merits, if 17 the return preparer knew or reasonably should have known of the unrealistic position and the 18 unrealistic position was not disclosed or was frivolous. 19 38. I.R.C. § 6694(b) penalizes a return preparer who willfully attempts to understate a 20 taxpayer’s liability or who understates a taxpayer’s tax liability due to reckless or intentional 21 disregard of rules and regulations. 22 23 24 25 26 27 39. I.R.C. § 6695(b) penalizes a return preparer who fails to sign the returns he or she prepares. 40. I.R.C. § 6695(c) penalizes a return preparer who fails to include an identification number on the returns he or she prepares. 41. Kyle has engaged in conduct subject to penalty under I.R.C. § 6694 by preparing returns that understate his customers’ tax liabilities based on positions for which there is no 28 7 2980903.1 1 realistic possibility of being sustained on the merits. Specifically, Kyle prepares returns that 2 contain inflated or fabricated employee business expenses, other business expenses, and false 3 charitable contribution deductions. 4 5 6 7 42. Kyle knew or should have known of the unrealistic positions taken in the returns he prepared and filed for customers. 43. The unrealistic positions Kyle took on the returns he prepared were frivolous and without a reasonable basis. 8 44. Kyle violated I.R.C. § 6694(b) because his understatements of his customers’ tax 9 liabilities were willful or due to reckless and/or intentional disregard of internal revenue rules 10 11 12 and regulations. 45. Kyle also repeatedly failed to sign and/or include a preparer identification number on the returns he prepared. 13 46. Kyle has engaged in fraudulent and/or deceptive conduct that substantially interfered 14 with the proper administration of the internal revenue laws by: inflating or fabricating deductions 15 on Schedules A and C. 16 47. Kyle’s continual and/or repeated violations of I.R.C. §§ 6694 and 6695 and his 17 fraudulent or deceptive conduct fall within I.R.C. § 7407(b)(1)(A), (B), and (D), and are subject 18 to injunction under I.R.C. § 7407. 19 48. Kyle’s continual and/or repeated conduct subject to injunction under I.R.C. § 7407 20 demonstrates that a narrow injunction prohibiting only specific misconduct would not prevent 21 his continued interference with the proper administration of the internal revenue laws. An 22 injunction permanently barring Kyle from acting as a return preparer is warranted. 23 49. I.R.C. § 7408 authorizes a district court to enjoin a person from engaging in conduct 24 subject to penalty under either I.R.C. §§ 6700 or 6701 if injunctive relief is appropriate to 25 prevent recurrence of that conduct. 26 50. I.R.C. § 6701 imposes a penalty on any person who aids or assists in, procures, or 27 advises with respect to the preparation or presentation of a federal tax return, refund claim, or 28 8 2980903.1 1 other document knowing (or having reason to believe) that it will be used in connection with any 2 material matter arising under the internal revenue laws and that if it is so used it would result in 3 an understatement of another person’s tax liability. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 51. Kyle knowingly inflated and fabricated deductions on his customers’ federal income tax returns. 52. Kyle has engaged in conduct that is subject to penalty under I.R.C. § 6701, and an injunction under I.R.C. § 7408 is appropriate. 53. I.R.C. § 7402(a) authorizes a court to issue injunctions as may be necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the internal revenue laws, even if the United States has other remedies available for enforcing the internal revenue laws. 54. Kyle has repeatedly interfered with the enforcement of the internal laws by his conduct described above in paragraphs 16-29. 55. If Kyle is not enjoined, he is likely to continue to interfere with the enforcement of the internal revenue laws. 15 Permanent Injunction 16 Based on the foregoing findings of facts and conclusions of law, and for good cause 17 18 shown the Court ORDERS: A. That pursuant to I.R.C. §§ 7402(a) and 7407, Roosevelt Kyle, individually and doing 19 business as Century One Resorts, Ltd. or Century One Associates, or under any other name or 20 using any other entity is prohibited from directly or indirectly preparing or filing, or assisting in 21 the preparation or filing of federal income tax returns and related documents for any person other 22 than himself; 23 B. That pursuant to I.R.C. §§ 7408(c) and 7402(a), Roosevelt Kyle, individually and 24 doing business as Century One Resorts, Ltd. or Century One Associates, or under any other 25 name or using any other entity is prohibited from directly or indirectly: 26 27 (1) Preparing or filing, or assisting in, or directing the preparation or filing of any federal tax return or amended return or other related documents or 28 9 2980903.1 1 forms for any other person or entity; 2 (2) Engaging in any activity subject to penalty under I.R.C. §§ 6694 or 6695; 3 (3) Engaging in other conduct that substantially interferes with the proper 4 administration and enforcement of the internal revenue laws; 5 (4) Engaging in any other activity subject to penalty under the I.R.C.; and 6 (5) Representing persons before the Internal Revenue Service. 7 D. That pursuant to I.R.C. § 7402(a), no later than 21 days from the date this order is 8 signed, Roosevelt Kyle shall contact all persons from whom he prepared or assisted in preparing 9 a federal income tax return after January 1, 2004, and inform those persons of the entry of the 10 Court’s findings, the possibility of the imposition of penalties against him, the possibility that the 11 United States may seek to assess and collect any federal income taxes, interest, and penalties 12 against customers that customers may owe, and the entry of a permanent injunction against 13 Defendant Roosevelt Kyle; 14 E. That pursuant to I.R.C. § 7402(a), within 21 days from the date this order is signed, 15 Roosevelt Kyle shall serve upon the government complete list of persons (including names, 16 address, phone numbers, and social security numbers) for whom he prepared or assisted in the 17 preparation of a federal income tax return after January 1, 2004; 18 19 20 21 F. It is also ORDERED that the United States is permitted to engage in post-judgment discovery to ensure compliance with the permanent injunction; and G. That this Court shall retain jurisdiction over this action for the purpose of implementing and enforcing this Order. 22 23 IT IS SO ORDERED. 24 DATED: September 15, 2008 25 IRMA E. GONZALEZ, Chief Judge United States District Court 26 27 28 10 2980903.1
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