Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007
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(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

Federal Court Bars St. Louis Woman from Preparing Tax Returns for Others

School Bus Driver Prepared Bogus Tax Returns on the Side

WASHINGTON — A federal court in St. Louis has permanently barred Yolanda White of St. Louis from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Senior Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri issued the permanent injunction order against White, who, according to papers filed in the case, works as a St. Louis school bus driver.

The court held that White repeatedly engaged in fraudulent conduct by claiming fabricated or grossly overstated deductions on customers’ federal income tax returns. Government papers filed in the case state that many of White’s customers are Bosnian immigrants who speak little or no English. The court held that the estimated harm from White’s misconduct for tax years 2003 through 2005 exceeded $1 million.

The Justice Department has previously obtained injunctions against two other return preparers who prepared returns for Bosnian immigrants. Details are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv06111.htm and http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv06021.htm. In addition to permanently barring White from preparing federal income tax returns, the court order requires her to provide the government a list of her customers’ names, mailing and e-mail addresses, and telephone and Social Security numbers. More information about this case and a copy of the government complaint are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv07066.htm.

Since 2001, the Justice Department has obtained injunctions against more than 225 tax preparers and tax-fraud promoters. More information about these cases is available on the Justice Department Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/taxpress2007.htm. More information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division can be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax.

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