Memphis, TN - Lawrence J. Laurenzi, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced that Shukeyla Jones was indicted on April 6, 2010 by a federal grand jury.  Jones was arrested this morning and had her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charmiane G. Claxton.  Jones was released pending a trial to be held later this year.

The indictment charges Jones with 26 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.  According to the indictment, Jones prepared federal income tax returns for others to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and claimed, on the returns, tax refunds the filers were not entitled to receive.  The indictment states that the returns were filed for calendar years 2003 through 2007 for various clients and contained, among other things, false itemized deductions, fraudulent Schedule C businesses, false dependents, incorrect filing statuses, and fraudulent claims for  Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC). 

Each count carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

This investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Fabian is representing  the government.

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Note:  An indictment is a form of accusation and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

 

 

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