FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 31, 2002
         
Kesha Handy                           Patrice Warren
P. O. Box 61129                      Phone 713/567-9334
Houston, TX 77208                   Fax 713/718-3389
Phone: 713/567-9335  
Fax: 713/718-3390
E-Mail: usatty.txs@usdoj.gov

TWO LOCAL WOMEN INDICTED
FOR DEFRAUDING THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Al Balboni, Assistant U. S. Attorney
Phone: 713/567-9726; Mobile: 281/744-4721

(HOUSTON) Michael T. Shelby, United States Attorney for the Southern District of
Texas, announced today that Dora H. Robledo and Eva L. Morales were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by filing false claims for income tax refunds. Robledo was also charged with nineteen counts of filing false claims for income tax refunds for the years 1997 and 1998.

The indictment alleges that Robledo and Morales conspired to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by filing income tax returns fraudulently designed to generate larger tax refunds than the taxpayer was legally entitled to receive. According to the indictment, Robledo was an income tax return preparer authorized by the IRS to file tax returns electronically. Robledo operated a business known as D.J. Tax Service. The indictment further alleges that Robledo prepared tax returns containing various false entries, such as overstated tax withholding amounts or fictitious deductions, designed to increase the amount of the refund. It is alleged that, in some instances, Robledo created fictitious employers for certain taxpayers in order to report additional fictitious income and tax withholding amounts, which resulted in larger fraudulent refunds. Robledo filed the false returns without obtaining the required signature of the taxpayer or providing a copy of the return to the taxpayer. Morales' primary role in the conspiracy was to refer individuals to Robledo for tax preparation. Morales received a fee from Robledo for the referrals. Morales sometimes charged the taxpayers a fee directly.

If convicted of the conspiracy, Robledo and Morales each face a possible sentence of ten years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Robledo also faces a possible sentence of five years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for each count of filing a false claim for refund. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Al Balboni.

02/01/31-morales-robledo