Anthony Henry Williams, 52, of Surprise, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to four years in prison.

Williams was convicted on Jan. 11 of 17 counts including conspiracy, false claims to the IRS and transactional money laundering.

In 2018 and 2019, Williams submitted seven false tax returns to the IRS, claiming more than $3 million in owed refunds.

The IRS processed one of these returns that resulted in an unwarranted $600,000 refund to Williams. The IRS later advised him that the return was fraudulent, and that Williams needed to return the money.

Williams failed to do so; instead, he purchased two luxury vehicles and a home, among other expenditures.

His co-defendant, Shakina Williams, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served followed by 12 months of supervised release for her role in the offense.

Both defendants were ordered to pay almost $600,000 in restitution. They also were ordered to forfeit their interests in a Surprise home, an Audi A7 and a Porsche Panamera.

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin M. Rapp and Kristen Brook, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.