TAMPA, Fla. – A Kissimmee man’s attempt to secure millions of dollars in fraudulent tax refunds has landed him behind bars for more than three years. U.S. District Judge Katherine K. Mizelle sentenced Gilmar Pereira Da Silva, Jr. to 37 months in federal prison after he admitted to filing a false tax return, according to an announcement made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The legal proceedings followed a guilty plea from Pereira Da Silva on February 9, 2026. Beyond his prison term, the court mandated that he pay $103,646 in restitution to the United States Department of the Treasury.
This figure covers the losses the government sustained from false IRS filings for the 2019 and 2020 tax years.
Court records reveal the scale of the fraud escalated significantly over time. In his 2021 tax filing, Pereira Da Silva claimed a massive refund of $3,413,844. This request was based on fictitious fuel tax credits he was not eligible to receive. The IRS flagged this specific return and did not process the multimillion-dollar payment.
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However, the agency was not as successful in catching earlier attempts. For the 2019 and 2020 tax years, Pereira Da Silva filed similar documents claiming refunds of approximately $20,699 and $82,947, respectively.
These claims also relied on fabricated fuel tax credits. In those instances, the IRS processed the returns and deposited the funds into accounts controlled by Pereira Da Silva.
The prosecution of this case aligns with a broader federal crackdown on the misuse of taxpayer funds. On April 7, the Department of Justice introduced the National Fraud Enforcement Division, a branch dedicated to investigating and prosecuting those who steal from the public treasury.
These efforts are part of a wider government initiative, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, aimed at eliminating waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.
The investigation was spearheaded by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay G. Trezevant.
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