Press Release
FORMER JACKSON HEWITT RETURN PREPARER PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX PREPARATION FRAUD SCHEME
June 18, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeffrey H. Sloman, Acting 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 Aracelis Llanos, a/k/a Sally, a/k/a Yvonne Rodriguez, 30, of Miami, pled guilty today, 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 and mandatory restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2009 in Miami, FL, before Judge Joan A. Lenard.
According to the Indictment and court documents in connection with today's guilty plea, defendant Llanos was hired 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 for herself and her clients, claiming approximately $136,881in 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 stated that they gave Llanos a portion of their refund checks upon cashing.
Mr. Sloman 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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