N.J. tax preparer sentenced in largest COVID-19 tax relief fraud case in the country, feds say

A Bergen County tax preparer convicted in what prosecutors called the nation’s largest COVID‑19 tax relief fraud case was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison, federal authorities said.

Leon Haynes, 52, of Teaneck, was found guilty last year of 15 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, one count of mail fraud and two counts of tax evasion, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.