Tax preparer faces prison

FORT MYERS — A Cape Coral tax preparer received a two-year sentence for filing fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

U.S. District Judge John Steele sentenced Alfred Ferreras, 27, of Cape Coral, to two years in federal prison for filing false tax returns. In addition, Steele ordered Ferreras to pay more than $711,000 in restitution, according to a statement on Tuesday from U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill.

In May, Ferreras pleaded guilty to preparing false tax returns for 192 people, according to the U.S. Attorney. Some of the returns contained false net losses from businesses and others fraudulently claimed first-time homebuyer credits for which customers were ineligible.