ChuliTodo

Sellersburg, IN 2021--2023 Tax Preparation Firms

IRS-CI DOJ False Tax Returns Fictitious Schedule C Inflated Medical Deductions

Penalty

$2 million

Outcome

Anita Marie Rodriguez Perez, operator of ChuliTodo, sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,954,673 in restitution after preparing approximately 463 fraudulent tax returns using fabricated Schedule C losses and inflated medical deductions.

Details

ChuliTodo / Anita Rodriguez Perez — 463 Fraudulent Returns, Indiana (2021–2023)

Outcome: Rodriguez Perez sentenced November 19, 2025 to 18 months federal prison and $1,954,673 restitution after pleading guilty to five counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

Anita Marie Rodriguez Perez operated ChuliTodo, a tax preparation business in Sellersburg, Indiana (Clark County), and between 2021 and 2023 prepared approximately 463 fraudulent federal income tax returns for the 2020 through 2022 tax years. The scheme applied two systematic fraud mechanisms: fabricated Schedule C forms claiming nonexistent business losses, and inflated itemized deductions for medical and dental expenses. The tax loss caused to the IRS was $1,575,250, with restitution ordered at $1,954,673.30.

Sentencing occurred November 19, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker in the Southern District of Indiana. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.

ChuliTodo's name and operations suggest it served a Spanish-speaking immigrant community in southern Indiana—a demographic that is frequently targeted by unscrupulous tax preparers who exploit language barriers, limited familiarity with U.S. tax law, and reluctance to challenge preparers on return accuracy.

Primary Source: Sellersburg Tax Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing More Than 460 False Returns

How Crucible Prevents This

ChuliTodo's fraud relied on two systematic fabrications: fake Schedule C business losses and inflated medical deductions. Crucible's documentation enforcement controls requiring receipts or business records before applying Schedule C losses, combined with statistical outlier detection on medical expense deduction amounts relative to client income, would trigger mandatory review before submission. Pattern detection across 460+ returns showing identical deduction structures would surface the scheme early.

Source: Sellersburg Tax Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing More Than 460 False Returns

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