GREAT FALLS, Va. — A Great Falls man, Rick Tariq Rahim, was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for committing tax crimes and operating a wire fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced on Friday.
Rahim, 56, owned multiple businesses, including laser tag facilities and an Amazon reseller company. Between 2015 and 2021, he failed to pay employment taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks and did not file required quarterly tax returns. Rahim also had outstanding personal income tax liabilities from the years 2010 to 2012, which he did not fully pay.
In an effort to avoid paying the taxes owed, Rahim submitted false statements to the IRS, hiding valuable assets such as luxury cars, a helicopter, and real estate in Great Falls. Rahim later transferred ownership of the property to his wife and used business accounts to cover personal expenses, including nearly $1.6 million on mortgages and luxury vehicles. He also withdrew over $1.1 million in cash in smaller amounts to evade currency transaction reports.
Rahim’s criminal activities extended beyond taxes. He defrauded customers through a wire fraud scheme by marketing subscription-based services on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Discord. He falsely claimed to have consistently beaten the stock market and lured customers by showcasing his wealth, luxury homes, and cars.
As a result, Rahim caused over $4.4 million in losses to the IRS and defrauded investors out of more than $300,000 in trading funds. He earned nearly $1.4 million in subscription fees through deceptive practices.
Rahim’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of tax evasion and wire fraud.
