- April 24, 2024
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Updated 2:20 p.m. Sept. 7
On Aug. 25, the day after Bob Newsholme shot himself in an attempted suicide, his clients at Flagler Tax Service contacted the Flagler County Sheriff's Office to report that he had defrauded them.
The FCSO General Assignment Unit, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant Sept. 3 on Flagler Tax Service of Bunnell, located at 608 E. Moody Blvd. Detectives seized multiple computers, files and other evidence potentially linked to numerous incidents of a massive organized scheme to defraud clients.
Newsholme has a criminal history dating back to the late 1970s in New York for fraud, larceny and forgery. He is not a certified public accountant as most of his clients believed he was, and the current cases being investigated by the FCSO total $189,871 of missing funds.
Newsholme has a criminal history dating back to the late 1970s in New York for fraud, larceny and forgery. He is not a certified public accountant as most of his clients believed he was, and the current cases being investigated by the FCSO total $189,871 of missing funds.
“At this time, we have no indication that any other Flagler Tax Service employees took part in or had knowledge of any illegal activity,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Thousands of documents and forensic material are being analyzed as the investigation continues. It’s unfortunate that someone who was trusted in the community would take advantage of so many people that trusted him. Our investigators will not rest until the victims are identified and the suspect is held accountable for his actions.”
FCSO is asking the community – any person or business whose taxes have been prepared by Flagler Tax Service and has received a notice from the IRS of late filings – or anyone who believes they may be a victim to please contact the FCSO to make a formal report at 386-313-4911.
There are currently 12 active cases being investigated for fraud against Newsholme that FCSO is investigating. If you feel you may be a victim, please contact the FCSO by calling 386-313-4911 to file a report. Upon filing a report with FCSO, victims need to contact the IRS with their case number at 800-829-1040 (Individuals) or 800-829-4933 (Businesses).
The FCSO also urge residents who may not be known victims of fraud but may have had their tax information seized during the investigation of Flagler Tax Services to contact the IRS.
