A tax preparer from Port Saint Lucie, Wislet Metayer, was sentenced on February 11 to three years in federal prison for defrauding taxpayers and making false statements on a naturalization application. U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks also ordered Metayer, 45, to pay $167,792.45 in restitution.
Metayer was convicted by a federal jury in West Palm Beach of 32 counts related to preparing false tax returns and one count of making a false statement connected to his citizenship application.
“This defendant abused the trust of his clients and stole from the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “He inflated refunds to increase his fees, costing the U.S. Treasury more than $175,000. At the same time, he attempted to obtain U.S. citizenship while concealing his crimes. Fraud in our tax system and dishonesty in our immigration process will not be tolerated.”
“When you turn tax forms into tools for bogus refunds —you’re stealing from every honest taxpayer,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Metayer chose to cheat the system and even lied in a bid for citizenship. A jury saw through it, and the court delivered accountability. IRS Special Agents will continue protecting the integrity of the tax system and work with our partners to hold accountable those who engage in fraud.”
Court records show that between 2019 and 2025, Metayer worked as a professional tax preparer and filed dozens of federal income tax returns with false business losses, deductions, and credits without informing his customers. This led to losses exceeding $175,000 for the U.S. Treasury.
Metayer is originally from Haiti and is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. In March 2024, during his ongoing scheme, he applied for naturalization but failed to disclose any criminal conduct or offenses as required by law.
After serving his sentence, Metayer will face removal proceedings from the United States.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation’s Florida Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations Miami office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc Osborne prosecuted.
Further information about this case can be found at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-14036.
