Press Release
FORMER JACKSON HEWITT RETURN PREPARER PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX PREPARATION FRAUD SCHEME
May 19, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, announced that defendant Providencia Llanos, a/k/a Tata, 32, of Miami, pled guilty on May 18, 2009, to making and filing fraudulent tax refund claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 287 and 2. Defendant Llanos remains on bond pending sentencing. At sentencing, Llanos faces up to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2009 at 3:00 PM in Miami, FL, before Judge Joan A. Lenard.
According to the Indictment and court documents, Providencia Llanos was hired as a tax preparer at Jackson Hewitt in Miramar, FL, to prepare tax returns for clients. While working at Jackson Hewitt, Llanos prepared and submitted tax returns to the IRS on behalf of herself and her clients, claiming approximately $33,657 in fraudulent tax refunds. Specifically, Llanos submitted tax returns and Forms W-2 s containing false employer information and false income amounts in order to generate fraudulent tax refunds. Some of the clients interviewed during the investigation were not aware that Llanos had filed fraudulent tax returns on their behalf.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lois Foster-Steers.
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.
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