Pocatello man sentenced for filing false tax returns

A Pocatello man was sentenced Thursday to 12 months and one day in prison for filing false tax returns. Jonathan Peirsol,42, of Pocatello prepared false individual income tax returns under the business name of JJ Accounting Inc. in Blackfoot, according to U.S. District Court documents. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division claimed Peirsol falsified returns without his clients’ knowledge or consent by adding items like medical and education expenses. According to court documents, Peirsol also diverted portions of the refunds sent by the Internal Revenue Service to bank accounts controlled by him, without his clients’ knowledge. Peirsol also failed to report on his personal tax returns the fees he earned from his tax preparation business. In addition to the term of prison, Peirsol was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $62,441 in restitution to the IRS. Peirsol pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false return in March. Peirsol also owns and operations J and J Chemical Inc., a chemical supply company in Blackfoot.