Naperville tax cheat gets 6½ years

A Naperville tax preparer began serving a 6½-year prison term this week for federal tax fraud. Gregory B. Sams, 37, who operated GBS & Associates on the city's northeast side pleaded guilty April 7 to the federal charges.

Investigators said he prepared at least 244 fraudulent tax returns on behalf of himself and unsuspecting clients during a three-year period. U.S. District Court Judge Suzanne B. Conlon meted out the maximum prison term Wednesday.

She also ordered Sams to make $571,331 in restitution to the government.