TAX PREPARER CHARGED WITH PREPARING FRAUDULENT TAX RETURN
LYDIA D. ROBERTS, age 50, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged in a one-count bill of information with knowingly preparing a fraudulent tax return for another person, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
The bill of information alleges that on March 12, 2007, ROBERTS prepared a 2006 U. S. Individuals Income Tax Return Form 1040 for an H&R Block customer in which the defendant falsely represented that the customer had Schedule C expenses as well as a qualifying dependent.
If convicted, ROBERTS faces up to five (5) years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Letten reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri.
(Download Bill of Information 
)
