PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Port St. Lucie tax preparer was sentenced to three years in federal prison for orchestrating a tax fraud scheme that cost the U.S. Treasury more than $175,000 and for lying on his application to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.

On Feb. 11, the U.S. Department of Justice said 45-year-old Wislet Metayer was sentenced to 36 months in prison and ordered him to pay $167,792.45 in restitution. A federal jury in West Palm Beach previously convicted Metayer of 32 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, along with one count of making a false statement related to naturalization.

According to prosecutors, Metayer worked as a professional tax preparer from 2019 to 2025. During that time, he attracted clients by promising large refunds and then secretly filed federal tax returns containing fabricated business losses, deductions, and credits. These falsified returns increased taxpayer refunds and allowed him to charge inflated preparation fees. Investigators say his scheme resulted in losses exceeding $175,000 to the federal government.

“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,”

Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation Florida Field Office said Metayer’s conduct harmed honest taxpayers.

When you turn tax forms into tools for bogus refunds — you’re stealing from every honest taxpayer.”

“Metayer chose to cheat the system and even lied in a bid for citizenship. A jury saw through it, and the court delivered accountability,” Loecker said.

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Metayer, a Haitian national and lawful permanent U.S. resident, applied for naturalization in March 2024 while the fraud scheme was still active. As part of the process, applicants must disclose whether they have committed any crimes, regardless of arrest or conviction. Prosecutors said Metayer falsely denied his ongoing criminal conduct, concealing the fraud from immigration authorities.

After completing his prison sentence, Metayer will be subject to removal from the United States, according to the DOJ.