Owner of Raleigh tax prep firm indicted, arrested for filing false tax returns, federal officials say

Garvey Imhotep is accused of filing false tax returns from 2011 through 2015 while acting as the owner of Tax Kings LLC, Two Brothers Tax Service and Taxes Done Right, according to a statement by U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Imhotep was arrested Tuesday but it was not immediately clear if bond has been set in the case.

He has been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and 14 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return, prosecutors said.

Authorities said Imhotep and his co-conspirators allegedly filed tax returns that claimed false education credits, among other illegitimate items, in order to fraudulently generate clients’ tax refunds.

The statement from prosecutors did not identify the co-conspirators.

If convicted, Imhotep could be sentenced to a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return.

A conviction could also include fines, supervised release and restitution, according to federal officials.