A Norwich tax preparer pleaded guilty in federal court in New Haven on Tuesday on tax fraud changes, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release Wednesday.

David Etienne, 49, pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return, an offense that carries a maximum prison term of three years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer on Nov. 29. Etienne was released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Etienne operated as a tax return preparer through several businesses, including Los Maestros Inc, Los Maestros Group, Tax Experts USA and Tax Experts USA Inc. For the 2012 through 2021 tax years, Etienne prepared numerous federal tax returns for clients that included false expenses and losses in connection with sole proprietorship businesses, false unreimbursed employee expenses, and, in some cases, false medical, dental or education-related expenses.

Etienne’s criminal conduct involved tax loss, affecting the IRS and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, of approximately $600,000, the news release stated.

The investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.