Seir Robinson Havana, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering charges, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement.
As CEO of Mana Tax Services in the Los Angeles area, Havana represented himself to pro athletes as an expert in the tax code who could get them big refunds. He admitted as part of his plea agreement to submitting tax returns on behalf of nine athletes that grossly inflated the refunds to which they were entitled. The athletes were not named.
Havana also submitted fraudulent loan applications under the government’s Paycheck Protection Program on behalf of multiple companies.Havana faces more than 20 years in federal prison when he’s sentenced Nov. 9. A co-defendant, Quin Ngoc Rudin, 45, of Chino, pleaded guilty in May to wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 14.