Springfield, Ill. – A grand jury today returned an indictment charging Phyllis J. Patterson, of Forsyth, Ill., with filing false income tax returns. According to court documents, Patterson, 60, owned and operated Patterson Accounting in Decatur.

The indictment alleges Patterson filed false income tax returns in 2004, 2005, and 2006, on behalf of herself and her husband. Patterson allegedly falsely overstated her business expenses to reduce her taxable income. The indictment alleges that based on Patterson’s actual total taxable income, she should have paid additional income tax of $55,712 for the 2004 return; $46,773 for the 2005 return, and $7,814 for the 2006 return.

If convicted, each count of filing a false income tax return is up to three years in prison. The U.S. Clerk of the Court will schedule a date for Patterson to appear in federal court in Urbana.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller.