FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Docket #: 1:12-cr-00203-LJO-SKO

FRESNO, Calif. — Judi Ann Papagni, 55, of Bakersfield, was arraigned today on a 21‑count indictment charging her with presenting fraudulent claims for tax refunds to the Internal Revenue Service, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to the indictment, Papagni prepared 54 tax returns with inflated income that allowed the tax payer to receive payments of the Earned Income Credit to which they were not entitled. Over a four-year period, the indictment charges that Papagni claimed fraudulent refunds totaling approximately $246,763.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Mark J. McKeon is prosecuting the case.
The maximum statutory penalty for each count of filing a false claim is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, if convicted, 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.

The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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