Hayward Woman Charged With Conspiracy To File False Claims
OAKLAND, Calif. – A Hayward, Calif., woman was arrested yesterday morning on charges related to a scheme to obtain payment of false claims for refunds from the IRS, United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Marcus Williams announced.
According to the indictment, Latasha Ringo and others solicited and assisted others in falsely claiming federal income tax refunds through the preparation and submission of false 2010 tax returns. Ringo and others recruited individuals to file fraudulent federal income tax returns under their own names and Social Security numbers. Ringo and others created false W-2 forms that contained the names of employers who did not employ the individuals listed on the forms and that contained fabricated amounts of tax withholdings. Ringo and others caused the false W-2s to be submitted to commercial tax return preparers authorized by the IRS to file tax returns electronically.
Ringo pled not guilty to the charges during her initial appearance in federal court in Oakland yesterday. She is next schedule to appear before United States District Court Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton on Dec. 5.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to file false claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code 286, is 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Michael G. Pitman is the Assistant United States Attorney who is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS, Criminal Investigation.
Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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