29/1/2017 Columbia tax preparer sentenced to two years in federal prison | Local | columbiamissourian.com

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/columbia­tax­preparer­sentenced­to­two­years­in­federal­prison/article_6c7fc7ce­e339­11e6­a3fa­1fcc4e… 1/2

advertisement

Home /   News /   Local

46°

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/columbia­tax­preparer­sentenced­to­two­years­in­federal­prison/article_6c7fc7ce­e339­11e6­a3fa­1fcc4e72339c.html

Columbia tax preparer sentenced to two years in federal prison

TOMÁS ORIHUELA Jan 25, 2017

Tomas OrihuelaSpring 2017 Public Life reporter. I'm an exchange junior studying photojournalism with an emphasis on print and social media.

COLUMBIA — A Columbia tax preparer was sentenced on Wednesday to two years in federal prison without parole for defrauding his

clients and failing to pay his personal income taxes. The total amount of money involved is nearly $300,000.

David Lee Keithley, who pleaded guilty on Aug. 2 to one count of eling a fraudulent tax return and another charge of failing to ele an

income tax return, will have to pay restitution to his victims, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District

of Missouri, Tammy Dickinson.

advertisement

Keithley, 63, owned Keithley and Associates on John Garry Drive in Columbia, which prepared taxes and provided payroll services.

However, Keithley didn't send payments to the IRS for his clients. Instead, he had clients make checks out to him and then kept the

money for his personal use.

According to court records, he had a history of stealing funds from clients' tax payments and from business clients. His most recent

criminal activity came to light when his former clients received letters from the IRS, warning them that they owed taxes. Keithley would

respond to clients' with assurances that he would take care of the situation. In the end, he misappropriated $120,354. 

He later admitted he didn't declare income tax for eve years, between 2009 and 2013. During that time, he failed to pay almost $150,000

to the IRS and more than $20,000 to the state of Missouri, according to the news release from Dickinson's ogce.

Keithley, who faced a possible four-year sentence, will begin serving his sentence on March 10, 2017.

Supervising editor is Katherine Reed

MORE INFORMATION

Columbia man pleads guilty to tax fraud