TYLER, Texas - A Longview tax preparer has been indicted on 19 federal counts after prosecutors accused him of filing returns containing false information to increase refunds for his clients.
Jason Elias Briley, 42, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in August 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
Briley is charged with 19 counts of aiding or assisting in tax fraud. He appeared in federal court Sept. 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.
Federal prosecutors said Briley owned a tax preparation business in Longview and prepared federal income tax returns for clients.
The indictment alleges Briley included false information on those returns in an effort to increase the amount of money his clients received in refunds.
Prosecutors estimate the tax loss associated with the alleged conduct at approximately $370,000.
The information released by the U.S. Attorney's Office did not identify Briley's tax preparation business, specify how many clients were involved or describe the types of false information prosecutors allege were placed on the returns.
If convicted, Briley faces up to three years in federal prison. The ultimate sentence, if any, would be determined by the court under federal law and sentencing guidelines.
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson is prosecuting.
