ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – A tax preparer from St. Paul is accused of filing false tax returns for customers in order to steal money from clients, according to charges filed Thursday by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.

Koua Lee, 34, was charged with one count of theft by swindle, three counts of filing a false tax return and three counts of failure to pay taxes in connection with his personal income tax filings.

Lee is set to make his first appearance in Ramsey County District Court on Oct. 26.

According to a criminal complaint, Lee owns Absolute Tax Service in St. Paul. Several customers contacted St. Paul Police saying that they were double billed for tax preparation fees.

A police investigation showed that Lee told clients that their federal tax refunds were $200 to $600 less than he reported to the IRS. He pocketed more than $5,000 in refunds that belonged to his clients, according to the complaint.

People with any possible further information involving this case are asked to call St. Paul Police at (651) 266-5734.