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Clearwater man gets 5-month prison term in tax case

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 22, 2009

TAMPA - A former tax preparation business owner was sentenced today to five months in federal prison and five months of home detention for filing false tax returns.

Husam Abu-Dayeh, 37, of Clearwater, begged U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew for leniency.

"I'm ashamed that I put my family here," he said. "I would like to apologize to everyone I've affected. … I'm really sorry for what happened, and I'm really working hard to change."

Abu-Dayeh owned Taxpros Accounting Services in Dunedin. In 2004 and 2005, he prepared and submitted fraudulent returns for clients.

He told Bucklew he did so because clients told him they could get better refunds using other tax preparers. He said he caved in to competitive pressures.

Abu-Dayeh is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Jordan. He was educated in Iraq and came here about the time of the first Gulf war.

"It's a free country," he said. "Everything is beautiful. …I did wrong, and I am admitting it."

Defense attorney Peter A. Sartes said Abu-Dayeh lost his business as a result of this case and will never be able to prepare taxes again.

"His reputation in the community is shot," Sartes said. "He's tainted."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Monk said he feels for Abu-Dayeh and his family but urged the judge to impose a sentence that deters others from violating tax laws.

Sentencing guidelines recommended a term of less than a year in jail, but Bucklew said she couldn't spare Abu-Dayeh a prison sentence because his conduct spanned more than a year.

As a condition of his yearlong probation, Abu-Dayeh must serve five months of home detention. He also was ordered to pay $79,010 in restitution, which he said he do immediately.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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