Tampa Pastor Luckner Stimphil And His Daughter Get 57 Months Of Slammer Time For $11 Million Tax Fraud

Tampa Pastor Luckner Stimphil was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. Stimphil pleaded guilty for conspiracy to defraud the IRS out of $11 million.

The Tampa Pastor’s daughter, Elwolfine Dufort was sentenced to two years in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy.

The court also ordered Stimphil and Dufort to pay $11 million in restitution to the United States. Judge Steven D. Merryday imposed a $10,000 fine against Stimphil.

Stimphil and Dufort had pleaded guilty in February 2019.

Stimphil and Dufort have agreed to permanently stop preparing or assisting people with the filing of federal tax returns. The court also barred the Tampa Pastor and his daughter from instructing or training anyone in the preparation of federal tax returns.

The Tampa Pastor also consented to pay all taxes, interest, and penalties he owed to the IRS.  

Stimphil created and operated Top Popular Tax while as minister at First Calvary Family Life Ministry. Top Popular Tax was a tax return preparing business with offices in and around Tampa.

The business operated from around 2011 through at least mid-2015. The Tampa pastor and his daughter routinely assisted in and advised in the preparation of false and fraudulent 1040 forms to the IRS.

They included materially false and fraudulent information on the clients’ Schedule C Forms and Forms 8863.  Form 8863 is a claim for the American opportunity credit. Some of the forms also included a false and fraudulent claim for a credit for federal tax on fuels.    

Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigation stated:

Luckner Stimphil and his daughter were responsible for preparing false tax returns that caused more than $11 million dollars in losses to the IRS, essentially stealing the tax dollars paid by honest Americans.