HOUSTON – Anitra Broussard, a local tax return preparer, has pleaded guilty to charges she prepared false tax returns for clients during 2011, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. 

Broussard appeared for a re-arraignment hearing late yesterday before U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes. According to the plea agreement, Broussard acknowledged she knowingly prepared a number of false federal income tax returns that generated excessive refunds for clients for tax year 2011. She further admitted these tax returns included false deductions and credits that were intended to cause, and did cause, losses to the United States Treasury of at least $21,587.

In particular, Broussard acknowledged that on Jan. 30, 2012, she knowingly prepared a false 2011 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return – Form 1040 for a client. That return included a false Education Credit of $1,368, a false American Opportunity Credit of $998 and reported false Schedule C expenses for advertising ($2,162), repairs and maintenance ($3,012) and supplies ($1,640) in order to generate a fraudulent refund of approximately of $4,371. Additional losses resulted from other false tax returns that she prepared for clients.

Broussard faces up to three years in prison and $250,000 fine at her sentencing, set for Feb. 25, 2013. She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The investigation leading to the charges against Broussard was conducted by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Sledge.