FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
July 28, 2011	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:10-cr-00478-LJO

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Yesenia Ramirez, 33, of Patterson, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud for a scheme that defrauded clients in her tax preparation business.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Assistant United States Attorney Mark J. McKeon is prosecuting the case.

According to the plea agreement, Ramirez prepared federal income tax returns for clients of Patterson Financial during the 2006, 2007, and 2008 filing seasons. She provided the clients with copies of their tax returns reflecting lower refunds than they were actually receiving. She directed that the federal tax refunds be direct deposited into her bank account, and then provided the clients with the lesser refund amounts indicated by the client copies of the tax returns, thereby defrauding the clients of a portion of the tax refunds that they were due.

Ramirez is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on October 14, 2011. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

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