FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
November 10, 2011	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 2:10-cr-141-MCE

            SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Jennifer Jess, 37, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to file false tax returns.

            This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Spangler is prosecuting the case.

            According to court records, Jess filed a return in January 2006 for the 2005 tax year using a W-2 form from an employer where she had worked for only a part of that year. She falsified the W-2 form and sought a refund of $4,561. She then obtained a refund anticipation loan.

            According to the plea agreement, from January to March 2007, Jess filed another fraudulent return for herself and recruited co-defendant Theresa L. Constancio, of Stockton, and others to file fraudulent returns. All of them used false W-2 forms prepared by Jess listing Jess’s former employer, who has confirmed that none of the individuals had been in its employ during 2006.

            Jess is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, 2012 by United States District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution due to the IRS is approximately $25,722. 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.

            Constancio pleaded guilty and was sentenced on January 6, 2011 to 15 months in prison.

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