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Press Release

Treasure Coast Tax Return Preparer Sentenced To 42 Months In Prison For Preparing False Income Tax Returns

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, José A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced that Mary Ann Richard, of Ft. Pierce, Florida, was sentenced today on charges of assisting and advising in the preparation and presentation of 16 fraudulent income tax returns to the IRS, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2), and 2 counts of filing false personal income tax returns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206 (1). U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham sentenced Richard to 42 months in prison, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay the United States $183,026.00 in restitution.

According to the Indictment and factual basis at the time of plea, from about January 2010 through April 2010, defendant Richard was employed by JB&L Tax Service, Inc, a tax return preparation business located in Fort Pierce, Florida. From July 2010 through March 2011, defendant Richard owned and operated M2 Financial Services, a tax return preparation business located in Fort Pierce, Florida. At these businesses, Richard met with taxpayers and prepared tax returns as either an employee of JB&L Tax Services, Inc., or as an owner and operator of M2 Financial Services. Richard then assisted in the preparation and presentation to the IRS of income tax returns, knowing that these returns contained materially false information. Specifically, Richard filed false tax returns for others which included false information regarding wages, business losses, dependents, education credits and child care expenses. Richard also filed false personal tax returns (Forms 1040) for tax years 2009 and 2010 which included false information regarding employer, wages, business expenses, and personal deductions.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. McMichael.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Updated March 12, 2015