A Minneapolis-area father and son are accused of turning tax season into their own personal payout, with a federal indictment alleging a multimillion-dollar scheme built on bogus refunds and pandemic-era credits.
According to court documents, 44-year-old LaMar Javis Burgess and his 23-year-old son, LaMar Dazjar Burgess, are charged with filing false federal income tax returns from 2022 through 2024 that sought millions of dollars in refunds they were not entitled to. Prosecutors say the pair claimed fabricated COVID-19 sick- and family-leave credits, allegedly recruited other taxpayers for the scheme, collected personal information, then took a cut of the inflated refunds as their fee. Both now face multiple counts in federal court.
As reported by KSTP, the indictment unsealed this month charges the Burgesses with conspiracy to defraud the United States along with six counts of making false claims. The conspiracy charge alone carries a potential 10-year prison sentence. Prosecutors allege the elder Burgess relied on instructional guides to help fabricate tax returns and that both men submitted claims that misrepresented millions of dollars in would-be refunds. The filing also states they charged other taxpayers a portion of the fraudulent refunds as payment. According to the same report, LaMar Javis Burgess, who has prior felony convictions, is being held in federal custody pending trial and faces up to an additional 15 years tied to a weapons finding.
Criminal History and Court Record
Court records on Justia show that LaMar Javis Burgess has prior felony convictions, including a 2003 felon-in-possession case that reached the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Those earlier cases, while part of his public record, are separate from the federal tax-related indictment now pending in Minneapolis.
Broader Enforcement Context
The Burgess case is unfolding as federal prosecutors in Minnesota intensify their focus on refund- and COVID-era credit schemes, pursuing several large cases in the District of Minnesota in recent months. Earlier this year, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis announced an indictment that alleged hundreds of millions of dollars in false refund claims, a move covered locally by FOX9. Investigators say schemes that pump up refundable credits often rely on so-called “ghost preparers” and fabricated documentation to push oversized claims through the system.
What Happens Next
The indictment is an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. According to court filings cited by KSTP, pretrial proceedings are underway. If convicted on the conspiracy and false-claim counts, the Burgesses could be looking at significant prison time along with restitution orders. Federal investigators continue to lead the probe, and anyone with information related to the case is expected to be directed to contact law enforcement.
