United States Attorney David Capp

Northern District of Indiana

5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500

Hammond, Indiana 46320

Hammond                                                 South Bend                                               Fort Wayne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton

April 1, 2011                                                                                       PHONE: (219) 937-5500

www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/                                                                    Fax: (219) 852-2770 

FOUR CHARGED FOR PREPARATION OF FRAUDULENT TAX RETURNS

Hammond, Indiana—The United States Attorney's Office announced the following:

Four employees working for, or had worked for, Quick Sam Tax Service, located in Gary, Indiana, were charged in a felony complaint with preparation of fraudulent individual income tax returns from January, 2010 to March, 2011.

Chanel Bandy, 32, of Merrillville, Indiana, Britney Walker-Lipsey, 30, of East Chicago, Indiana, Charles Standifer, 35, and Rhonda Murphy, 35, both of Gary, Indiana, were arrested yesterday and had their initial appearances before Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry. Each were charged with four counts of willfully aiding or assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns.

These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jill Trumbull-Harris.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that Complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

            The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.