United States of America v. Hernandez et al

Filing 120

ORDER AFFIRMING AND 113 ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS; Defendant's Objections to the Report [ECF No. 115 ] are OVERRULED. The Court finds Defendant Hugo Gimenez in contempt for violating the terms of the October 31, 2018 Injunction [ECF No. 44 ]. Gimenez is ENJOINED from acting as an income tax preparer for anyone other than himself. Signed by Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga on 1/5/2024. See attached document for full details. (ps1)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 18-20783-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v.

Plaintiff,

FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ, et al.,
Defendants.
________________________________/
ORDER
THIS CAUSE came before the Court on Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman’s Report
and Recommendations [ECF No. 114], entered on August 10, 2023.

In the Report, the

Magistrate Judge makes findings of fact giving rise to his recommendations that the Court hold
Defendant Hugo Gimenez in contempt for violating the terms of the October 31, 2018 Injunction
[ECF No. 44] but not Defendant Francisco Hernandez. (See generally Report). Gimenez filed
timely Objections [ECF No. 115] to the Report, to which the Government filed a Response in
Opposition [ECF No. 116]. The Court then held a hearing on October 30, 2023. (See Oct. 30,
2023 Hr’g [ECF No. 119]).
The Court has carefully reviewed the Report, the parties’ written submissions, the
evidentiary hearing transcripts, the record, and applicable law. For the following reasons, the
Report is affirmed and adopted, and Gimenez’s Objections are overruled.
I. BACKGROUND
On March 1, 2018, the Government filed a Complaint [ECF No. 1] alleging Defendants
Hernandez and Gimenez, both tax preparers at Francisco Hernandez Tax Services, LLC, engaged

CASE NO. 18-20783-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman
in fraudulent conduct when preparing customer tax returns. The parties thereafter submitted a
stipulated injunction (see generally Joint Mot. for Entry of Inj. as to Specific Conduct Submitted
by Stipulation & Consent & Req. for Hr’g [ECF No. 40]), which the Court entered on October
31, 2018 (see generally Inj.). In addition to requiring compliance with all laws and regulations
applicable to tax preparers, the Injunction imposed additional due diligence and documentation
obligations on Defendants, such as requiring them to collect Customer Information Organizers
and Customer Information Modules (collectively “Customer Organizers”) with customers’
supporting documentation. (See generally id.). The Injunction also authorized the Government
to request documents from Defendants to monitor their compliance with the Injunction. (See id.
11). 1
The Injunction was set to expire on December 31, 2021, but after more irregularities
surfaced in tax returns prepared by Defendants, the parties stipulated to modify the Injunction
and extend it by an additional year. (See generally Joint Mot. to Modify Inj. as to Specific
Conduct [ECF No. 49]). The Court modified the Injunction accordingly. (See generally Dec.
27, 2021 Order [ECF No. 50] (implementing modifications to the content and handling of
Customer Organizers but otherwise retaining the terms of the original Injunction)).
By the end of 2022, the Government again detected violations of the Injunction which it
characterized as “deliberate.”

(Mot. for Order to Show Cause [ECF No. 53] 2).

The

Government moved to hold Defendants in contempt, asserting they had
engaged in conduct subject to penalty under 26 U.S.C. [section] 6694; fabricated
customer deductions and credits; falsely claimed a dependent on the return of at
least one customer; and failed to comply with the verification requirements of the
Injunction and the internal revenue laws and regulations.
The Court uses the pagination generated by the electronic CM/ECF database, which appears in the
headers of all court filings. Citations to deposition testimony rely on the pagination and line numbering
in the original document.

1

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CASE NO. 18-20783-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman
(Id. 6 (alteration added)). Once the Motion was fully briefed, the Court referred the matter to the
Magistrate Judge. (See Mar. 13, 2023 Order [ECF No. 76]).
The Magistrate Judge held an evidentiary hearing on May 25 and 26, 2023, where five of
Defendants’ customers, one employee from Defendants’ place of work, and Hernandez testified.
(See generally May 25, 2023 Tr. [ECF No. 102]; May 26, 2023 Tr. [ECF No. 101]). Gimenez
invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer the
Government’s questions. (See May 25, 2023 Tr. 47:4–72:7). At the hearing, the Magistrate
Judge ordered briefing on the appropriateness of drawing an adverse inference against Gimenez
for his invocation of his Fifth Amendment right not to testify (see May 26, 2023 Order [ECF No.
95]); he then issued an Order explaining he would apply such an inference against Gimenez, but
that the inference alone was insufficient to justify a recommendation of contempt for either
Defendant (see Order on Potential Adverse Inferences [ECF No. 110] 2).
The Magistrate Judge issued his Report and Recommendations on August 10, 2023. (See
generally Report). As to Hernandez, the Magistrate Judge finds the allegations against him are
unfounded and recommends the Court not hold him in contempt. (See id. 53–64). No party
objected to this finding, and the Court does not further address it. As to Gimenez, the Magistrate
Judge concludes Gimenez willfully violated the Injunction and recommends the Court hold him
in contempt. (See id. 38–52). Gimenez timely objected. (See generally Objs.). The Court held
a final hearing on October 30, 2023, where the parties presented their arguments regarding the
Magistrate Judge’s findings. (See Oct. 30, 2023 Hr’g).
II. LEGAL STANDARDS
Contempt. “Civil contempt proceedings may be employed to coerce a contemnor into
compliance with the court’s order and to compensate a complainant for losses sustained.” Bank

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CASE NO. 18-20783-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman
of Am., N.A. v. United Cities Grp., Inc., No. 08-21917-Civ, 2009 WL 855987, at *4 (S.D. Fla.
Mar. 31, 2009) (citation omitted). “The party seeking contempt bears the initial burden of
showing, by clear and convincing evidence, a willful disregard for the authority of the court
through failure to comply with a court order.” Id. (citing Ga. Power Co. v. NLRB, 484 F.3d
1288, 1291 (11th Cir. 2007); other citation omitted). “The clear and convincing evidence must
establish that: (1) the allegedly violated order was valid and lawful; (2) the order was clear and
unambiguous; and (3) the alleged violator had the ability to comply with the order.” Ga. Power
Co., 484 F.3d at 1291 (emphasis and citation omitted). “[O]nce the moving party makes a prima
facie showing that the court order was violated, the burden of production shifts to the alleged
contemnor to show a present inability to comply that goes beyond a mere assertion of
inability[.]” Howard Johnson Co., Inc. v. Khimani, 892 F.2d 1512, 1516 (11th Cir. 1990)
(alteration added; citations and quotation marks omitted).
The Eleventh Circuit has held that “‘[i]n determining whether a party is in contempt of a
court order, the order is subject to reasonable interpretation, though it may not be expanded
beyond the meaning of its terms absent notice and an opportunity to be heard.’” Ga. Power Co.,
484 F.3d at 1291 (alteration added; quoting Riccard v. Prudential Ins. Co., 307 F.3d 1277, 1296
(11th Cir. 2002)). Moreover, the court should “construe any ambiguities or uncertainties in such
a court order in a light favorable to the person charged with contempt.” Id. (citation omitted).
The focus in a civil contempt proceeding “is not on the subjective beliefs or intent of the alleged
contemnors in complying with the order, but whether in fact their conduct complied with the
order at issue.” Howard Johnson, 892 F.2d at 1516 (citation omitted).
Whether a litigant’s actions constitute contempt is ultimately left to the discretion of the
district court.

See id. at 1522 (concluding “the district court’s finding of contempt and

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CASE NO. 18-20783-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman
imposition of sanctions was within its discretion” (footnote call number omitted)); McGregor v.
Chierico, 206 F.3d 1378, 1383 (11th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted) (explaining that a court of
appeals reviews the grant or denial of a motion for civil contempt under an abuse of discretion
standard). Moreover, “[d]istrict courts are afforded wide discretion in fashioning an equitable
remedy for civil contempt.” Id. at 1385 n.5 (alteration added; citation omitted).
Review of Magistrate Judge’s Report. Magistrate judges have limited power to address
contempt. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(e). Where, as here, a motion for civil contempt has been referred
to a magistrate judge, a certification process is used. See, e.g., Longhi v. AMG Fin. Grp., Inc.,
No. 19-23047-Civ, 2020 WL 9460327, at *2 (S.D. Fla. Dec. 1, 2020), report and
recommendation adopted, 2021 WL 3855898 (S.D. Fla. Aug. 27, 2021). Specifically,
the magistrate judge shall forthwith certify the facts to a district judge and may
serve or cause to be served . . . an order . . . to show cause [before the district
judge] why that person should not be adjudged in contempt by reason of the facts
so certified. The district judge shall thereupon hear the evidence as to the act or
conduct complained of[.]
28 U.S.C. § 636(e)(6) (alterations added).
“‘The certification of facts under section 636(e) serves to determine whether the moving
party can adduce sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case of contempt.’” Lapinski v.
St. Croix Condo. Ass’n, Inc., No. 16-cv-1418, 2018 WL 4381168, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 1, 2018)
(quoting Church v. Steller, 35 F. Supp. 2d 215, 217 (N.D.N.Y. 1999)).

Along with this

certification, “a magistrate judge may recommend that certain sanctions be imposed by the
district court upon a finding of contempt.” Id. (citation and quotation marks omitted).
Therefore — as with other dispositive matters referred to a magistrate judge — a report
and recommendation is issued, and the parties may file objections to the magistrate judge’s
findings. See, e.g., id. at *1; Sream, Inc. v. S&T Tobacco Int’l, Inc., No. 18-cv-1733, 2021 WL
8201486, at *1 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 11, 2021), report and recommendation adopted sub nom., Roor
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CASE NO. 18-20783-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman
Int’l BV v. S&T Tobacco Int’l, Inc., 2021 WL 8201489 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 27, 2021). District courts
must review de novo “any part of [a] magistrate judge’s disposition that has been properly
objected to.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3) (alteration added). “It is critical that the objection be
sufficiently specific and not a general objection to the report.” Macort v. Prem, Inc., 208 F.
App’x 781, 784 (11th Cir. 2006) (citing Goney v. Clark, 749 F.2d 5, 7 (3d Cir. 1984)). A district
court reviews the parts of a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation that were not properly
objected to for clear error. See Macort v. Prem, Inc., 208 F. App’x 781, 784 (11th Cir. 2006)
(“Most circuits agree that ‘[i]n the absence of a timely filed objection, a district court need not
conduct a de novo review, but instead must only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the
face of the record in order to accept the recommendation.’” (alteration adopted; citation
omitted)).
III. DISCUSSION
Gimenez objects to the Magistrate Judge’s findings, arguing that the Magistrate Judge
impermissibly modified the Injunction’s duration, incorrectly characterized the Injunction’s
requirements, improperly weighed the credibility of witness testimony, and improperly applied
an adverse inference against Gimenez for his invocation of his Fifth Amendment right not to
testify. (See generally Objs.). The Court addresses each argument and concludes Gimenez
violated the Injunction’s provisions and a finding of contempt is warranted.
A. The Injunction is valid and lawful.
As explained, the Court entered the parties’ stipulated Injunction on October 31, 2018
and modified it, also by consent of the parties, on December 27, 2021. (See generally Inj.; Dec.
27, 2021 Order). Gimenez’s sole argument regarding the validity of the Injunction is that despite
the parties’ intent to extend the Injunction through the end of 2022 (see Joint Mot. to Modify Inj.

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as to Specific Conduct 1), the Court’s modification did not explicitly state a new expiration date
and therefore did not serve to extend the Injunction’s duration (see Objs. 6). Gimenez contends
that by concluding the Injunction indeed remained in effect through December 31, 2022, the
Magistrate Judge impermissibly modified the Injunction. (See id.).
Gimenez is correct that the original Injunction was set to expire on December 31, 2021
and that the December 27, 2021 Order modifying the Injunction did not explicitly extend this
deadline. (See generally Inj.; Dec. 27, 2021 Order). But the December 27, 2021 Order includes
compliance dates in 2022, clearly contemplating an extension of the Injunction’s provisions.
(See Dec. 27, 2021 Order 1 (setting a January 9, 2022 deadline to finalize the substance and form
of Customer Information Modules)). Further, the parties indisputably agreed to the extension
and acted as if the Injunction were in place through December 31, 2022. (See Report 8).
As the Magistrate Judge notes, “[a]n injunction should be strictly construed, but it
‘should not be pressed to a dryly logical extreme’ giving rise to technical loopholes.” (Report 7
(alteration added; quoting Alley v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Hum. Servs., 590 F.3d 1195, 1206
(11th Cir. 2009))). The Court will not indulge the “narrow literalism” Gimenez proposes. Alley,
590 F.3d at 1206 (citation omitted). The parties and the Court have at all times intended the
Injunction to remain in place through December 31, 2022 and proceeded as such. (See Report 3–
8).

Continuing to rely on this understanding does not amount to an impermissible

“modification” of the Injunction with “retroactive effect.” (Objs. 6 (citation omitted)).
B. The Injunction is clear and unambiguous.
The Injunction imposed several requirements on Defendants beyond those typically
expected of tax preparers. (See generally Inj.). These included, for example, conducting due
diligence and collecting additional documentation when claiming Head of Household status or

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preparing a Schedule C to claim tax deductions for certain expenses. (See id. 4–10). The
Magistrate Judge summarizes the provisions of the Injunction relevant to this proceeding, which
are numerous; the Court does not repeat them here.

(See Report 9–12).

While Gimenez

challenges whether his conduct can be properly interpreted as a violation of the Injunction, he
does not argue any relevant provision of the Injunction is unclear or ambiguous. (See generally
Objs.).

In any case, the Court finds that the Injunction’s requirements are clear and

unambiguous. (See generally Inj.).
C. Gimenez had the ability to comply with the Injunction but did not do so.
The Magistrate Judge concluded based on “credible” witness testimony and documentary
evidence that Gimenez failed to comply with the terms of the Injunction despite having the
ability to do so. (Report 20). The Magistrate Judge’s findings focused on tax returns Gimenez
prepared for customers Yunier Cabrera, Ayleen Garcia, Ana Teresa Milanes-Baez, and Nathaly
Hernandez. (See id. 21–25, 29–35).
First, the Magistrate Judge found that Gimenez violated the Injunction when preparing
Cabrera’s tax return. Gimenez
inadequately considered Cabrera’s minimal English language skills and lack of
knowledge on tax laws[;] . . . asked questions to elicit responses that would
support deductions without reviewing documents that might undermine the
deduction and without asking for additional details[;] . . . [and] simply directed
Cabrera to sign his return and its accompanying forms without any explanation.
(Id. 21–22 (alterations added; citation omitted)). Gimenez prepared a Schedule C for Cabrera
that claimed multiple expenses that were in fact not deductible. (See id. 22–23). In doing so,
Gimenez failed to verify “that the expenses were accurate and supported by receipts, bank
statements, and other documents” (id. 22), as required by the Injunction (see Inj. 5–7). Gimenez
also “claimed a credit for COVID[]relief on Cabrera’s return, even though Cabrera credibly

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testified that he told Gimenez that he did not contract COVID in 2021 and never missed work for
any COVID-related reason.” (Report 23 (citations omitted)).
Second, Gimenez improperly claimed Head of Household status on Garcia’s tax return.
While Garcia indicated on her Customer Organizer that she was unmarried, Gimenez did not
confirm this information despite also preparing Garcia’s husband’s tax return, the husband being
present at Garcia’s appointment, and Gimenez reviewing property tax information and mortgage
statements that listed Garcia’s husband as an owner of the property. (See id. 24). Gimenez also
claimed two non-cash charitable donations on Garcia’s return that were unsupported by
documentation (see id. 25), as required by the Injunction (see Inj. 8–9 (allowing Defendants to
claim charitable deductions only where provided with “a verifiable (i.e. third party) receipt from
a qualifying charity for each donation”)).
Third, Gimenez reported multiple deductions on Milanes’s tax return “without oral
verification from Milanes or support from bank statements, receipts, and other documents[.]”
(Report 30 (alteration added)). For example, Gimenez incorrectly claimed Milanes wore a
uniform to work and claimed Milanes’s personal telephone bill as a business expense even after
she told Gimenez the bill included two additional lines for her children. (See id. 31). As with
Cabrera, Gimenez also claimed a credit for COVID relief despite Milanes telling him she had not
contracted the illness. (See id. 32).
Finally, Nathaly Hernandez “credibly testified that when she and her husband met with
Gimenez, Gimenez tore the page listing her marital status off her packet (knowing they were
married) and destroyed it in his document shredder.” (Id. 34 (citation omitted)). Gimenez then
“instructed her to complete a new one without her husband’s information so that she could
instead file as ‘Head of Household.’” (Id. (citation omitted)).

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In all four instances, Gimenez certified that the information provided to him in preparing
these returns did not appear to be “incorrect, incomplete, or inconsistent.” (Id. 25 (citation
omitted); see also id. 23–24 32, 35 (citations omitted)). In fact, Gimenez either intentionally
failed to ask critical questions that would have revealed inaccuracies and inconsistencies between
the information provided by customers and the information reflected on the tax returns; or
willfully fabricated deductions without documentation and based on unreasonable positions.
(See id. 39–53).
Moreover, the Magistrate Judge reasoned that even if each of these customers signed
their tax returns, “the weight accorded to the signatures is affected by their context.” (Id. 39).
Because many of the customers spoke little or no English and understood little about tax laws,
their signatures must be understood to reflect the customers’ “knowledge and belief that
Gimenez prepared the return in accordance with the tax laws.” (Id.). The Magistrate Judge thus
concluded that the Government demonstrated Gimenez violated the Injunction by clear and
convincing evidence. (See id. 39–53).
Gimenez challenges three aspects of this analysis: the Magistrate Judge’s characterization
of the Injunction’s requirements; the weight ascribed to witness testimony; and the application of
an adverse inference against Gimenez for asserting his Fifth Amendment right not to testify.
(See generally id.). The Court addresses each objection in turn.
1. The Injunction’s Requirements
Gimenez argues the Injunction required him to “merely collect[] customer-provided
substantiation for expenses and income[,]” not verify or audit this information when completing
the tax returns. (Objs. 4–5 (alterations added)). In addition, Gimenez stresses that the Injunction
required him to seek confirmation that adequate documentation had been provided and then

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CASE NO. 18-20783-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman
“‘rely on said confirmation from the taxpayer’” to complete the return. (Id. 5 (emphasis omitted;
quoting Inj. 6)). According to Gimenez, his failure to review supporting documentation cannot
form the basis of a willful violation of the Injunction. (See id. 5–6). The Court does not agree.
Even if a tax preparer “is not required to audit, examine or review books and records,
business operations, documents, or other evidence[,]” he “may not ignore the implications of
information furnished to [him] or actually known by [him]” and “must make reasonable inquiries
if the information as furnished appears to be incorrect or incomplete.” 26 C.F.R. § 1.6694-1(e)
(alterations added); (see Inj. 2–3 (requiring that Defendants comply with the provisions of 26
C.F.R. section 1.6694-1); see also Resp. in Opp’n 4–5).

Further, the Injunction required

Gimenez to collect such documentation and enjoined him from including any income or expense
on a taxpayer’s Schedule C if such documentation was not provided. (See Inj. 5–6).
The Magistrate Judge found Gimenez fabricated deductions despite a lack of
documentation and evidence that the deductions were inappropriate. (See, e.g., Report 42–44).
This is clearly a violation of the Injunction and applicable tax laws and regulations. See 26
C.F.R. § 1.6694-1(e); (see, e.g., Inj. 3 (enjoining Defendants from “[p]reparing Forms 1040 that
claim false credits, expenses, deductions, and income” (alteration added))). The Magistrate
Judge also found that Gimenez intentionally failed to ask questions in order to “absolve[]
him[self] of liability for reporting a fraudulent item on the customer’s tax return.” (Report 40
(alterations added)). By not asking Garcia whether she was married or whether Milanes’s
telephone bill was for personal use, for example, Gimenez failed to “make reasonable inquiries”
regarding information before him. 26 C.F.R. § 1.6694-1(e). This, too, amounts to a clear
violation of the Injunction’s provisions.

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2. Witness Testimony
Gimenez next argues the Magistrate Judge “ascribe[d] inappropriate weight to witness
testimony impeached by inconsistent sworn statements.”

(Objs. 3 (alteration added)).

According to Gimenez, the four taxpayers’ signatures and accompanying verifications that their
tax returns were accurate render their testimony attributing inaccuracies to Gimenez incredible.
(See id. 3–4).

Gimenez asks the Court to revisit the Magistrate Judge’s credibility

determinations de novo. (See id. 4).
“When objections are made to findings which the magistrate judge made based upon the
testimony of witnesses,” the district court must “review the transcript or listen to the taperecording of those proceedings.” Willis v. United States, 346 F. App’x 404, 406 (11th Cir. 2009)
(alteration added; quotation marks and citation omitted). But the Court is not required to discard
a magistrate judge’s credibility findings.

To the contrary, “[c]redibility determinations are

typically the province of the fact finder because the fact finder personally observes the testimony
and is thus in a better position than a reviewing court to assess the credibility of witnesses.”
United States v. Ramirez-Chilel, 289 F.3d 744, 749 (11th Cir. 2002) (alteration added; citation
omitted). Therefore, in evaluating a factual version of events, a court “should defer to the
magistrate judge’s determinations unless his understanding of the facts appears to be
‘unbelievable.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Rivera, 775 F.2d 1559, 1561 (11th Cir. 1985)).
Here, the Magistrate Judge issued a thorough and well-reasoned analysis of both the
witness testimony and Gimenez’s arguments regarding the import of sworn signatures, ultimately
concluding that the witnesses were credible and that less weight should be afforded to the
signatures given the context in which they were given. (See Report 39–53). The record and
evidentiary transcripts are consistent with these conclusions, and the Court will not disturb the

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Magistrate Judge’s credibility determinations. (See generally May 25, 2023 Tr.; May 26, 2023
Tr.). Moreover, the Court held a hearing following issuance of the Report in accordance with 28
U.S.C. section 636(e)(6)(B), at which Gimenez presented no persuasive evidence to reweigh the
Magistrate Judge’s credibility findings. (See generally Oct. 30, 2023 Hr’g). The Court therefore
adopts the Magistrate Judge’s determination that the witnesses credibly testified to providing
Gimenez with information that was inconsistent with or contrary to what Gimenez included on
their tax returns.
3. Adverse Inference
According to Gimenez, a “key driver” of the Magistrate Judge’s findings was his
“discretionary decision to take an adverse inference against Gimenez for invoking his Fifth
Amendment right to decline to testify[.]” (Objs. 1 (alteration added)). Gimenez explains he was
pushed to invoke his Fifth Amendment right because the Government foreshadowed criminal
charges against him on a theory the Magistrate Judge ultimately found to be unsupported. (See
id. 2–3; Report 8–9 (finding no evidence was presented that Defendants hid information from
customers)). Because the Government could have dropped these criminal insinuations or offered
immunity to Gimenez but did not do so — and because the allegations were ultimately
unfounded — Gimenez argues an adverse inference did not properly balance the “‘competing
interests of the party asserting the privilege, and the party against whom the privilege is
invoked[.]’” (Objs. 2 (alteration added; quoting Doe ex rel. Rudy-Glanzer v. Glanzer, 232 F.3d
1258, 1265 (9th Cir. 2000))).
Contrary to Gimenez’s assertions, the adverse inference was not a “key driver” of the
Magistrate Judge’s analysis. Rather, the Magistrate Judge mentioned the inference once in the
65-page Report, and applied it only “to the extent there might be a question about the impact of

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the signatures of Gimenez’s clients[.]” (Report 41 (alteration added)). As explained, the Court
accepts the Magistrate Judge’s credibility findings and finds that the facts certified sufficiently
support a finding of civil contempt even without the adverse inference.
*

*

*

The facts and records before the Court, as well as the testimony and arguments presented
during the three hearings, indicate Gimenez violated the Injunction. Thus, the burden is on
Gimenez to show an inability to comply. Because Gimenez nowhere argues he was unable to
comply with the Injunction’s provisions (see generally Report; Objs.), he fails to satisfy this
burden, and a finding of civil contempt against him is warranted.
The question remains as to what sanction should be imposed. Civil contempt sanctions
“may serve to either (1) coerce the contemnor to comply with a court order, or (2) compensate a
party for losses suffered as a result of the contemnor’s act.” McGregor, 206 F.3d at 1385 n.5;
see also Serra Chevrolet, Inc. v. Gen. Motors Corp., 446 F.3d 1137, 1147 (11th Cir. 2006)
(explaining that a civil contempt sanction should be “remedial, and for the benefit of the
complainant” (quotation marks and citation omitted)). The Government requests that Gimenez
be enjoined from working as a tax preparer for anyone other than himself and be disbarred from
practicing before the IRS in any capacity. (See Mot. for Order to Show Cause 15). Gimenez
requests that any sanction revoking his preparer tax identification number and barring him from
preparing returns “be without prejudice to Gimenez’s ability to move for modification of the
injunction after an appropriate time.” (Objs. 7). During the October 30, 2023 hearing, counsel
for Gimenez indicated a year would be an appropriate amount of time within which to seek
modification.

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The Court determines that an injunction on Gimenez’s ability to prepare tax returns for
anyone other than himself with the opportunity to seek modification within one year is an
appropriate civil sanction.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1. The Report and Recommendation [ECF No. 114] is AFFIRMED AND ADOPTED.
2. Defendant’s Objections to the Report [ECF No. 115] are OVERRULED.
3. The Court finds Defendant Hugo Gimenez in contempt for violating the terms of the
October 31, 2018 Injunction [ECF No. 44]. Gimenez is ENJOINED from acting as an
income tax preparer for anyone other than himself. Gimenez may seek modification of
this injunction within one year of its effective date.
DONE AND ORDERED in Miami, Florida, this 5th day of January, 2024.

________________________________________
CECILIA M. ALTONAGA
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
cc:

counsel of record

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