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Inglewood man gets 18 months for falsifying tax returns

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An Inglewood man was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Wednesday for underreporting income he received for his construction services, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Porfirio Estrada, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of willfully aiding and assisting in the filing of a false income tax return last September.

In addition to his sentencing in federal court on Wednesday, Estrada was ordered by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi to pay $446,575 in restitution to the IRS.

The IRS said Estrada purposely filed false tax returns in 2015, 2016 and 2017. He underreported his income gained by roofing and other construction services by nearly $3.2 million.

Rather than depositing checks made out to his business and him personally, he often took them to check-cashing services and failed to report that money in his taxes, according to the agency.

“Mr. Estrada had multiple opportunities to accurately report his income,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Over a period of three years he willfully and knowingly defrauded the U.S. government and placed additional tax burden on the shoulders of hardworking taxpayers, and now he’ll feel the repercussions of his actions.”

Estrada will serve his 18 months in a federal prison.