LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A mother-son duo who operated a Las Vegas tax preparation business have admitted to orchestrating a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme involving false tax returns and diverted client refunds, according to investigators.
Iris Hondermann and her son Ivan Odiaga pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiring to defraud the United States by filing fraudulent tax returns with the IRS over a five-year period.
The Fraud Scheme
Between 2017 and 2021, Hondermann, who owned and operated the tax preparation business, and Odiaga, who worked for the company, prepared tax returns for clients that contained numerous false items. The fraudulent claims included:
- Fabricated business profits and losses
- Unauthorized COVID-19 sick and family leave credits
- False residential energy credits
According to court documents, the pair sought more than $5 million in fraudulent refunds from the IRS that their clients were not entitled to receive.
Diverted Refunds
In addition to filing false returns, Hondermann and Odiaga secretly diverted portions of client tax refunds without their clients’ knowledge or consent. Over the five-year period, they redirected more than $1.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds to bank accounts under their control.
Unauthorized Use of Tax Preparer ID
Odiaga also filed approximately 279 tax returns using another tax preparer’s unique identifier without permission, despite receiving multiple warning letters from the IRS against such misuse.
Sentencing and Penalties
Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, 2026. They each face:
- Maximum sentence of five years in prison
- Supervised release
- Restitution payments
- Monetary penalties
A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after reviewing U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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