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Press Release

Texas Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding the United States

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs
Caused a Tax Loss of More Than $10 Million

A Texas tax return preparer was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison for her role in a scheme to defraud the United States and for 27 months (consecutive) for filing a false federal tax return, for a total of 87 months, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

According to the indictment and information provided to the court, Stacey Anderson owned a tax return preparation business, Anderson Professional Tax Services, and operated the business out of her residence. With the assistance of co-defendant Janell Lightner, Anderson prepared 2013 and 2014 tax returns claiming false business items and/or education tax credits, in order to fraudulently increase their clients’ tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These returns were prepared for clients in Texas, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Anderson also filed a 2014 tax return for herself, falsely claiming an education credit and reporting a fraudulent income amount. The total tax loss generated from this scheme exceeded $10 million.  

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright, in Waco, Texas, ordered Anderson to serve a term of three years of supervised release and to pay restitution to the United States in the amount of $8,100,492.64.

On Aug. 6, 2019, co-defendant Janell Lightner pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States. Her sentencing, also in front of Judge Albright, is currently scheduled for Dec. 5, 2019.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Robert Kemins and David Zisserson, who prosecuted the case.  Mr. Zuckerman also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas (Waco Division) for their substantial assistance on this case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website

Updated February 5, 2025

Topics
Financial Fraud
Tax
Component
Press Release Number: 19-1089