Orlando, FL — A Miami man recently admitted guilt in a scheme to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns, appearing before Magistrate Judge David A. Baker in the Middle District of Florida. The guilty plea, submitted by Diandre Mentor, awaits acceptance by a U.S. district court judge.
Between January 2017 and 2019, Mentor was employed by Neighborhood Advance Tax (NAT), a tax preparation company. During his tenure, Mentor and his associates operated multiple offices across Florida, where they manipulated clients’ tax refunds through fabricated deductions. They also conducted training sessions to instruct other NAT employees on preparing fraudulent tax returns.
In 2020, Mentor and his co-conspirators launched a new venture, Smart Tax & Finance, which expanded to 12 franchise locations in South and Central Florida. The fraudulent practices continued, with Mentor and his team preparing false returns and teaching franchise staff to do the same. The total tax loss to the IRS due to Mentor’s actions is estimated at $3,090,077.
Several of Mentor’s associates have already entered guilty pleas. Abryle Y De La Cruz and Emmanual Almonor admitted to conspiring to defraud the United States. Adon Hemley pleaded guilty to both conspiracy and aiding in the preparation and filing of false returns. Isaiah Hayes also pleaded guilty to aiding in the preparation and filing of false returns. Two remaining co-conspirators, Franklin Carter Jr. and Jonathan Carrillo, are set to face trial on June 2.
Mentor’s sentencing date remains undetermined. He could face up to five years in prison, supervised release, restitution, and financial penalties. A federal district court judge will decide the sentence, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. The IRS Criminal Investigation division is handling the case, with Trial Attorney Michael L. Jones of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman prosecuting.
