Press Releases
TAX PREPARER PLEADS GUILTY TO FILING FALSE RETURN
May 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONICA SANDERS, age 30, a resident of Laplace, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before United States District Court Judge Lance M. Africk to one count of filing a false tax return, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to court documents, SANDERS prepared taxes for individuals in and around the New Orleans area. SANDERS admitted that she placed false dependents as well as inflated W-2 withholdings onto a tax return, in order to obtain a particular client a larger refund. By manipulating the W-2 withholdings, and placing two false dependents onto the Schedule C, the return qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a refundable tax credit for low-income, working taxpayers and the amount of the credit is based on income, filing status, and the number of qualifying children, if any.
SANDERS faces a possible maximum sentence of up to five (5) years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is set for August 20, 2009 at 2:00 P.M.
The case was investigated by the Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri.
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