A 48-year-old Norwich tax preparer is facing two dozen counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns.

A federal grand jury in New Haven returned a 25-count indictment against David Etienne, who operated through businesses that included Los Maestros Inc, Los Maestros Group, Tax Experts USA, and Tax Experts USA Inc.

Federal authorities said Etienne, between 2015 and 2019, prepared numerous federal tax returns for clients that included false expenses and losses in connection with sole proprietorship businesses when he knew the taxpayers had not operated sole proprietorship businesses. The returns also included false unreimbursed employee expenses, and false medical, dental or education-related expenses.

The arrest was announced Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery and Joleen D. Simpson, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England.

Etienne appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and entered a not guilty plea. He is free after posting a $100,000 bond. Each of the 25 counts carries a maximum term of three years in prison.