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Orlando Area Tax Return Preparers Preliminarily Enjoined from Preparing Returns for Others

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Note: View order here.

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a preliminary injunction against Orlando area tax return preparers Juan Humberto Garcia, Marcos Yariel Figueroa, and Garcia’s tax return preparation business, The Tax Master of BVL Inc. (Defendants).

The court issued the injunction following a hearing where the government presented evidence that showed the Defendants engaged in a pattern of preparing and filing false returns that understated their customers’ federal income tax liabilities and claimed inflated tax refunds by:

  • Fabricating medical expenses, charitable donations, and personal property taxes as deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A; and
  • Fabricating or inflating business losses on Form 1040 Schedule C.

In granting the government’s motion, the court primarily relied on the deposition testimony from over a dozen of the Defendants’ customers who all testified that they did not know about the fraudulent deductions claimed by the Defendants. In addition to finding strong proof that the Defendants fabricated deductions and losses, the court determined that the government would face irreparable harm absent an injunction. The court noted in this regard that the Defendants continued to prepare fraudulent returns even after they were served with a copy of the government’s complaint.  

The injunction bars Garcia, Figueroa, and The Tax Master from preparing and filing tax returns for others, working for or having an ownership stake in any tax return preparation business, and advising anyone about the preparation of a tax return.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement.

Attorney Franklin D. Sandrea-Rivero of the Tax Litigation Branch is handling this matter.

Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.

In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.

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Justice Department Opens Investigation into Lincoln Memorial University for Discrimination Against Jewish Students

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Yesterday, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, launched an investigation into Lincoln Memorial University to determine whether the university is engaged in discrimination against its Jewish students. Among other concerns, the investigation will determine whether the university’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is intentionally preventing Jewish students from completing their exams during the Spring semester.

“This Department of Justice is fiercely committed to shutting down the concerning outbreak of antisemitism that has been spreading on college campuses since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When colleges and universities single Jewish students out for adverse treatment, they are in clear violation of our civil rights laws and of this nation’s promise of equal opportunity for all Americans.”

“All students should be free to learn and train in environments free from discrimination,” said Paula M. Stannard, Director of the Department of Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). “Antisemitism has no place in our nation’s educational or medical training institutions, and OCR will work to ensure that federal civil rights laws are fully enforced.”

This investigation will be conducted pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Lincoln Memorial University receives substantial federal financial assistance and is therefore subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557.  Title VI and Section 1557 prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Antisemitism can be a form of discrimination on the basis of race or national origin, according to federal precedent. Lincoln Memorial University is based in Harrogate, Tennessee, and its DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine has campuses in Knoxville, Harrogate, and Orange Park, Tennessee.

Neither the Civil Rights Division nor the Office for Civil Rights has reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigations. 

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22-Year-Old Carolina Man Arrested for Child Exploitation

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Jadhiel Andrés Cedeño-Gómez, a 22-year-old man from Carolina, Puerto Rico, was arrested on criminal charges related to child exploitation, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. On February 12, 2026, Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested Cedeño-Gómez.

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Former Hulbert Schools Encumbrance Clerk Sentenced For Theft Of Federal Funds

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rebecca Deanne Morehead, age 55, of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for one count of Theft or Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds.  The Court also ordered Morehead to pay $178,758.16 in restitution.On November 21, 2024, Morehead pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court.  According to investigators, between June of 2019 and October 26, 2021, while serving as the Encumbrance Clerk and Activities Coordinator for the Hulbert Public School District, Morehead issued herself payroll and miscellaneous payments to in excess of her contracted and authorized salary with no legitimate purpose. Morehead issued these payments with the assistance of then-Treasurer Leslie Shannon Mack.  Together, their combined actions resulted in an ultimate loss to the Hulbert Public School District exceeding a half million dollars.  On December 11, 2024, Mack was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison and ordered to pay $372,808.09 in restitution.

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Indian National Pleads Guilty To Plotting To Assassinate U.S. Citizen In New York City

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence and Espionage Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Roman Rozhavsky, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced that NIKHIL GUPTA, a/k/a “Nick,” an Indian national, pled guilty to all three counts contained in the Second Superseding Indictment, charging him with murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with his efforts to murder a U.S. citizen in New York City.  

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Defense News: III Armored Corps, Fort Hood welcome 10 community leaders as 2026 Good Neighbors

Source: United States Army

strong>FORT HOOD, Texas — III Armored Corps and Fort Hood honored 10 Central Texas community leaders Feb. 5 during the 2026 Good Neighbor Induction Ceremony at III Armored Corps headquarters.

The newest inductees joined 78 others recognized during the past 30 years through the Fort Hood Good Neighbor program, which formally acknowledges civilians who enhance quality of life for Soldiers and their families.

“Since 1996, we’ve recognized special members of our community with the title of Good Neighbor,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general. “It formally recognizes outstanding leaders who have enhanced the quality of life for our Soldiers and families here at Fort Hood.”

This year’s inductees are: retired Maj. Gen. Kendall Cox; Dr. Michele Carter, chancellor of Central Texas College; retired Col. Todd Fox, former Fort Hood garrison commander and current president of First Heroes National Bank; Dr. Elizabeth Garza, a family medicine physician; Fernando Fernandez, vice president of Military Banking at First Heroes National Bank; Abdul Subhani, president and CEO of CenTex Technologies; Dr. Linda Angel-Watford, president and CEO of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas; Willie Keller, post commander of Command Sgt. Maj. A.C. Cotton VFW Post 12209; Kathy Gilmore, former Killeen city councilwoman and mayor pro tem; and retired Master Gunnery Sgt. Alan Wedding, military transition liaison for Workforce Solutions of Central Texas.

Dr. Richard Rhodes, president of Texas A&M University-Central Texas, was also selected and will receive his Good Neighbor jacket at a later date.

According to U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Hood Commander Col. Mark McClellan, each inductee was nominated by a unit commander or fellow Good Neighbor who witnessed their contributions firsthand.

“Each of today’s inductees was nominated by someone who saw the difference their support made through mentoring, advocacy, volunteering or simply showing up when it mattered most,” McClellan explained. “From those nominations, the commanding general selected individuals whose commitment exemplifies what it means to be a Good Neighbor.”

McClellan emphasized the program recognizes civilians who serve the installation voluntarily and often without recognition.

“These men and women give their time, energy and talents in support of Soldiers and families, often quietly and selflessly,” he said. “Your actions strengthen readiness in ways that cannot always be measured, but are deeply felt.”

Admiral echoed that sentiment, noting being a Good Neighbor extends beyond proximity to the installation.

“It means understanding the unique rhythm of our lives — having patience when training exercises run into the night and welcoming military families into your schools, churches and neighborhoods, knowing they may only be here a few years,” he said. “The strength of III Armored Corps is not measured solely in tanks and helicopters. The true source of our power is our people — and their resilience is directly linked to the support of our surrounding communities.”

That partnership, Admiral added, ensures Soldiers can focus on their missions and deployments, confident their families are supported at home in Central Texas.

Among this year’s inductees, Fox said the recognition represents an opportunity to continue serving Fort Hood beyond his military career.

“It is just a great opportunity to continue to serve this community,” Fox said. “When you’re on active duty, you really benefit from the quality of the relationship we enjoy with our local community. After you retire, it’s your turn to strengthen that relationship where you can.”

Fox noted Fort Hood’s program stands out across the Army.

“Some installations have similar programs, but none are as strong as this one,” he said.

In his civilian role, Fox said he remains focused on preserving and growing Fort Hood’s military mission while improving quality of life for Soldiers and families through job creation, education initiatives and transition support for veterans.

For Carter, the Good Neighbor induction was deeply personal.

“It’s very humbling,” she said. “This is a full-circle moment for me.”

Carter, an Army brat whose father served two tours in Vietnam, now leads Central Texas College in supporting military-connected students worldwide. Her husband is a retired Airman, and her daughter currently serves in the Air Force.

“I understand the importance of community support for families, especially while Soldiers and Airmen are deployed,” she said. “Having the opportunity to give back and pay it forward in my current role is priceless.”

Admiral expressed gratitude to the newest inductees.

“While we officially bring you into the fold today, the truth is you’ve been our partners, our advocates and our friends for a long time,” he said. “Fort Hood does not stand apart from its community — we are a part of it.”