Steven Holtz, CEO of The Holtz Group, pleaded guilty in the federal tax-fraud case against him, according to an October 5, 2026 report by Law360. The reported $25 million refers to fake deductions prosecutors said were claimed—not a confirmed IRS tax loss. The plea count, terms and sentence were not identified in the accessible report excerpt.
What the indictment alleged
On December 18, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced an indictment charging Holtz, Israel Pellot and Alton Scott. The government alleged that Holtz, the owner and CEO of The Holtz Group, and other preparers used false entries on client returns to reduce clients’ tax liabilities or increase their refunds. The firm could then charge fees based on purported tax savings, according to the DOJ announcement.
The indictment described alleged conduct from at least 2014 through at least 2025. The listed false or inflated items included itemized deductions, charitable contributions, unreimbursed employee expenses, business expenses, capital losses, rental real-estate losses, and casualty or theft losses. It also alleged that some returns overstated income to help clients qualify for refundable Earned Income Tax Credits and falsely claimed head-of-household status. These were charging allegations, not findings established at the time of the DOJ announcement.
The reported $25 million figure
Law360’s October 5, 2026 report described the case as involving $25 million of fake deductions. That is a reported figure for deductions at issue; it should not be read as $25 million stolen from the IRS, a calculated tax loss, or an amount of restitution. The DOJ announcement did not quantify the total alleged tax loss.
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A fee cited in the charging announcement
The DOJ release said the indictment alleged that Holtz billed one client $175,000 to prepare a 2021 return. It quoted an email attributed to Holtz: “You really aren’t paying my fee. The IRS is.” The statement was presented as part of the indictment’s allegations.
What Holtz was charged with—and what the plea report establishes
The 2025 indictment charged Holtz with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and 30 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false federal tax returns. The DOJ said the statutory maximum was five years for the conspiracy count and three years for each false-return count. Those are maximum penalties attached to the indictment charges, not the sentence imposed or a description of the count to which Holtz later pleaded.
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Law360 reported on October 5, 2026 that Holtz pleaded guilty. Its accessible excerpt does not identify the plea count, the terms of any agreement, restitution, or a sentence. It therefore does not establish that the original 31 counts were all resolved by guilty pleas, or what penalty Holtz will face. The DOJ stated in its charging announcement that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty; the later guilty-plea report marks a change in Holtz’s procedural status, but does not supply those missing disposition details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Case and court
The case is United States v. Holtz, No. 1:25-cr-00580, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The DOJ announcement identified Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil as the assigned judge. The plea report is attributed to Law360; the available excerpt does not provide a plea agreement or court-docket details.
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