Two Buffalo Women Charged in Tax Scheme

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Keianna A. Jones, 27, and Dominique N. Taylor, 27, both of Buffalo, N.Y., with conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the false income tax return charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Moscati, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, the defendants obtained blank W-2 forms from local businesses and prepared false W-2 forms. Jones and Taylor then assisted others in filing false returns using the fraudulent W-2s. This resulted in numerous individuals receiving income tax refunds to which they were not entitled.

The indictment is the culmination of an investigation on the part of  Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of  New York Field Office Special Agent- in-Charge Toni M. Weirauch.

            The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.