Newsletter july 2026
Volume 26, Number 7
Cheshier Tax Resolution Times
The Frontline Defender for the Distressed Taxpayer®
A Month Worth Celebrating
This past month brought three exciting honors recognizing Dionne Cheshier‘s leadership, expertise, and lasting impact in tax resolution, accounting, and financial services
Nominated — Top 50 Women in Accounting
Dionne has been nominated for the Top 50 Women in Accounting “Igniting Change” Award, recognizing women helping shape the future of accounting through leadership, innovation, growth, and community impact.
2026 Women of Distinction Award Winner
Dionne has been named a 2026 Women of Distinction Award recipient, recognizing her lifetime achievement and expertise in the accounting field. She will be featured in the upcoming 2026 Women of Distinction Honors Edition.
Four-Time Five Star Investment Professional
For the fourth consecutive year, Dionne has been named a 2026 Five Star Investment Professional, following previous recognition in 2023, 2024 and 2025. She will be featured in the August issue of Texas Monthly.
One Month. Three Milestones.
These honors reflect decades of experience, leadership, and commitment to helping individuals and businesses move forward with confidence.
We’re proud to celebrate the recognition.
Even prouder of the work behind it.
Tax Evader Massages the Books And Gets 18 Months in Prison!
Danny Nickelson Jr., the owner of General Physiotherapy, makers of massage and percussion devices used in medicine and physical therapy, was found guilty of failing to pay 10 years of employment taxes totaling $774,081.
From 2013 to 2022, Nickelson withheld taxes from his employees but kept the money. From 2013 to 2015 he did the same thing through another company he owned, Tomichi Industries, a plastic distributor and supplier of General Physiotherapy. He used the funds for business and personal use.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, ordered to pay restitution and a fine of $18,684.
“I don’t mind paying taxes.
It’s the surprise ending every year that gets me.”
Author Unknown
Scrap Happens
Thief and Tax Evader Heads to Prison
James Scholten was found guilty of tax evasion after failing to report 3.4 million dollars in income.
For 13 years, Scholten had a lucrative side hustle stealing scrap metal from his employer and selling it on his own.
Scholten intentionally kept records of the recycling income from his CPA, ensuring the earnings were left off his tax returns. By hiding the income, he avoided paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal taxes over the course of the scheme.
In 2021, Scholten reported owing just $2,465 in federal income taxes. In reality, he made $610,818 in taxable income from his side business that year alone, and had a tax liability of $172,618. The proceeds allowed Scholten to finance a lifestyle he wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.
He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $868,707 in restitution to the IRS.
Tax Cheating Doctor Faces Lengthy Prison Sentence!
A Michigan doctor was convicted of tax evasion after he failed to pay taxes on income earned through illegal prescription sales and businesses he secretly controlled through nominee owners.
Peter Nwoke operated two medical practices that primarily served homebound Medicare patients. To conceal income, he created two additional companies that he registered in the names of other individuals, while maintaining control of the businesses and collecting the profits.
He also sold prescriptions for more than 2.8 million dosage units of highly addictive opioid medications, charging $500 for prescriptions of OxyContin and oxycodone. The prescriptions were filled by dealers who later resold them on the street. Nwoke deposited more than 1.4 million dollars in cash from these sales into 20 different bank accounts and never reported the income to the IRS.
During tax years 2011, 2012, and 2013, Nwoke underreported his taxable income by more than two million dollars, which resulted in underreporting taxes owed by more than $725,000. Records showed he paid $29,424 in taxes when he should have paid $849,088. In a different year, Nwoke reported only $500 in taxes despite earning more than $400,000. He faces a long prison sentence and restitution
Doctor Is Prescribed 58 Months for Tax Evasion
and Insurance Fraud!
A disgraced physician was found guilty of carrying out multiple fraud schemes that targeted insurance companies and the IRS, while concealing millions of dollars in income.
Pankaj Merchia engaged in two separate health care fraud schemes involving CPAP and BiPap machines. Between 2017 and 2019, Merchia billed former patients’ insurance companies for monthly equipment rentals even though he had not treated some of those patients since at least 2011. In several cases, patients had already returned the devices. Proceeds from that scheme helped fund the purchase of an expensive home.
Merchia defrauded another insurance company out of more than $390,000 by submitting claims for a CPAP machine provided to his brother. After learning the insurer would not cover treatment rendered by a family member, Merchia created a new medical business and resubmitted claims under the new entity. He used those proceeds to fund a $250,000 wire transfer and purchase at least $140,000 in securities.
Between 2009 and 2019, he failed to report or pay taxes on more than 6.5 million dollars in income earned through his medical businesses. He falsely claimed the businesses were owned by a co-conspirator through a sham 2008 sale and used fabricated amortization deductions over many years to avoid taxes.
Man Launders Tax Refunds Through Money Orders
Festus Anyiam was found guilty of stealing government funds and laundering the proceeds of fraudulent tax refunds obtained through identity theft.
In 2015, Anyiam used stolen personal information belonging to taxpayers in Illinois and Missouri to file false tax returns. The returns directed the IRS to send refund payments through a third-party tax preparation software company, which then loaded the funds onto prepaid debit cards activated using the victims’ stolen identities.
The debit cards were used to purchase money orders from retail stores throughout Atlanta. Then, during a three-week period in June and July 2015, Anyiam used ATMs across Atlanta to deposit hundreds of those money orders into his personal bank account.
In another effort to conceal the origin of the funds, Anyiam purchased a cashier’s check for $406,000 and deposited it into an account at another bank.
In addition to restitution, he faces up to 40 years in prison for theft and 20 years in prison for money laundering.
Did You Know?
In South Carolina, licensed meat packers, butchers and processing plants can get a tax credit of $75 for every deer carcass processed and donated to a charitable organization. The organization must have a contract with a nonprofit to supply food to the needy.
Important Upcoming Tax Deadlines
July 20th
Texas quarterly sales tax due
September 15th
Third quarter 2026 estimated tax payments due
Partnership and S Corp Business that filed extensions are due
October 15th
Individual Tax return extensions
due
We’d Like to Hear From You!
If you have an IRS issue, or just want to refer a friend, relative or client, we’d love to hear from you. We can provide a no-obligation confidential consultation to help you solve your IRS problems.
Irving – Adrienne @ 972-514-1424
Duncanville – Linda @ 469-647-9950
Pecos – Audra @ 432-445-4949 Greenville – Shannon @ 469-256-4056
Enter Our Trivia Contest for a Chance to Win a
$250 Transferrable Gift Certificate!
Take the Trivia Challenge to win!
Each month, we will give you a new trivia question. The first THREE people who call our office with the correct answer will win a free $250 reduction on any IRS Resolution service we provide. Your prize is also transferrable, so use it for yourself, or give it to a family member or friend. Take your best guess and call Nicole @ 469-647-9950
This month’s question is….
Which US President was born on the Fourth of July?
Call Nicole @ 469-647-9950 with your guess
Your IRS Questions Answered Here…
Question: I own a small business and did not file or pay payroll taxes for the last few quarters. I may owe over $100,000 in 941 taxes. What should I do?
Answer: Owing 941 payroll taxes is very different than owing personal 1040 income taxes. Not only can the IRS padlock the doors to your business, but they can come after you personally, levy your personal bank accounts, confiscate your receivables, and seize your income and real property. Scarier still is that it could turn into a criminal matter. Why? Because the money has already been deducted from your employee’s payroll checks; so, it’s not your money to begin with! The IRS views this as if you stole their money. Payroll tax delinquency is the IRS’s number one enforcement priority.
Acting quickly by getting help NOW greatly improves your chances for a successful resolution. The longer you wait, the more you risk this turning into a criminal matter, where your options are very limited. The IRS has special programs for business owners who have fallen behind on their payroll tax obligations. We can assess your situation and figure out the best way to protect you, take over all dealings with the IRS, and negotiate a resolution. Don’t let them take everything you’ve worked so hard for. Penalties and interest are compound daily, just like a credit card. Don’t let this balloon out of control. Call us today so we can get you protected! There is a solution!
We at Cheshier Tax Resolution are experts in IRS tax problem resolution and help taxpayers with their IRS Problems every day. We know the “ins and outs” and know how to navigate the IRS maze. There is a solution to EVERY problem. Call us today! Ask for Linda @ 469-647-9950 for a FREE, no-obligation confidential consultation!