Feds: Georgia CPA sentenced in syndicated conservation easement tax scheme

A Georgia accountant was sentenced to 28 months in prison for his role in promoting and selling abusive syndicated conservation easement tax shelters.

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. also sentenced Herbert Lewis to serve three years of supervised release and to pay more than $4.8 million in restitution.

According to court documents and statements, Lewis was an Atlanta-based CPA and return preparer at a local accounting firm.

Beginning in about 2014 and through at least 2019, the feds said Lewis promoted and sold tax deductions to his wealthy clients as units in illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters organized and created by co-defendants.