Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the indictment of JONATHAN ERNEST GIRODES, 48, for allegedly stealing at least $250,000 from at least three clients through his tax preparation business, American Accounting Services, Inc. GIRODES is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree. [1]

"Four older adults and a medical student trusted Mr. Girodes to reduce their tax bills in an ethical and legal manner. This defendant allegedly broke that trust to steal $250,000 for his personal use," said District Attorney Bragg. "This investigation is ongoing, and there is reason to believe there are additional victims. If you are a victim, please call our Financial Frauds Bureau at 212-335-8900."

"The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates tax preparers who attempt to undermine our Nation's tax system," said TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Michael Carpenter. "We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who seek to corrupt federal tax administration are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Amanda Hiller, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Tax Department said: "We thank the Manhattan DA's office for their aggressive efforts in this case . Most preparers are honest, but some are not and they must be held accountable."

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, between October 4, 2022, and July 31, 2025, GIRODES operated a tax preparation business called American Accounting Services Inc. and exploited his role as tax advisor to steal at least $250,000 from at least three clients.

As the allegations detail, GIRODES, going by his first and middle name, "Jonathan Ernest," targeted at least three clients who had received a one-time financial windfall. The clients included an elderly couple who had sold their residence of 40 years to fund their retirement, another elderly couple attempting to manage money left to them after a loved one's death, and a medical student who had received an inheritance from a deceased family member to pay for medical school.

With each of these clients, GIRODES promised that he could reduce their tax bills by applying for an "offer in compromise" with both the federal Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and state tax authorities, including New York's Department of Taxation and Finance ("DTF"), and negotiating with those tax authorities for a favorable result. He instructed those clients to send him a portion of their anticipated tax liabilities in advance to be held in "escrow" while he negotiated with tax authorities on their behalf.

When clients sent GIRODES the money as instructed, he stole the funds for his personal use. Over the subsequent months, GIRODES repeatedly defrauded those clients by falsely claiming that the IRS and state tax authorities were demanding that additional funds be placed in escrow. At times, GIRODES sent those clients forged letters from the IRS or DTF purporting to make these demands. When clients complied and sent additional funds to GIRODES, he stole those funds as well.

Eventually, each of the victims learned that GIRODES had never successfully negotiated an offer in compromise or paid taxes on their behalf. After having been defrauded by GIRODES for tens of thousands of dollars each, these victims were left to foot their tax bills with penalties and interest.

Assistant D.A. Benjamin Reed (Financial Frauds Bureau) is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Kelly Thomas (Deputy Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Kofi Sansculotte (Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau), Judy Salwen (Deputy Chief of the Investigation Division) and Executive Assistant D.A. Jodie Kane (Chief of the Investigation Division). Senior Investigator William Martinez and Investigator Antonio Shilinsky assisted with the investigation, along with other members of Senior Rackets Team 2 of the D.A.'s Investigations Bureau. Brianna Vaca is providing valuable assistance in this case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the Department of Taxation and Finance, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for their partnership in this investigation.

Defendant Information:

JONATHAN ERNEST GIRODES

Miami, Florida

Charged:

• Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts
• Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count

###

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.