Essex county, n.J., tax preparer admits filing false tax returns for herself and her clients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
August 1, 2012 |
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County woman who owned a tax preparation business today admitted her role in willfully filing false tax returns on behalf of her clients and herself, resulting in a tax loss of nearly $200,000, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.
Alicia Barnes, 50, of Irvington, N.J., a corrections officer for New Jersey and self-employed owner of a tax preparation business, pleaded guilty today to an Information charging her with one count of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false personal federal tax returns and one count of willfully subscribing to false personal federal income tax returns. Barnes entered her guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements in court:
Barnes is the sole owner and operator of Just Taxes Unlimited LLC, a tax return preparation business located in Orange, N.J. During tax years 2006 through 2008, Barnes filed 42 false tax returns on behalf of clients by taking deductions for charitable contributions and unreimbursed employee expenses without a basis for doing so.
Barnes admitted that for tax years 2006 through 2008, she also filed U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns in which she purported to report all of her income, but in which she failed to report, or substantially underreported, the income she earned through Just Taxes Unlimited. As part of her guilty plea, Barnes has agreed to make full restitution to the IRS.
The charges of willfully aiding the preparation of false tax returns and subscribing to false tax returns each carry a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is currently scheduled for Nov. 9, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane H. Yoon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Brooke Barnett Esq., Newark
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of New Jersey.
FEMA is now accepting applications from residents and business owners who sustained losses in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Essex County, Hudson County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County and Union County.
Register online at
www.disasterassistance.gov , by web-enabled mobile device atm.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice.
