Duluth nail salon owners charged with tax fraud

Q Nails in Duluth has been charged with conspiracy and tax fraud, after failing to pay taxes on their business income.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says from at least 2016 through at least October 2020, the salon owners unlawfully conspired with each other to defraud the IRS.

Court documents say An Ngoc “Ritchie” Nguyen, 44, and Tram Anh “Ann” Nguyen, 41, and others reported only the credit card sales, or included a false, nominal amount of cash sales, on their individual income tax returns. This applies to Q Nails and Crystal Nails salons.

Authorities say the defendants also allegedly made false claims to reside at two different addresses, and allegedly agreed to divide their three children as dependents, in order to fraudulently claim head of household status on both of their individual income tax returns.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged Ritchie Nguyen with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, and four counts of making and subscribing a false tax return. Ann Nguyen is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and three counts of making and subscribing a false tax return.

Both defendants are scheduled to make initial court appearances in Duluth on March 7.