IRS Employee Arrested Today Following Indictment For Filing False Tax Returns

FRESNO, Calif. — Kimberly Brown-English, 52, of Fresno, was arrested today after a grand jury indicted her last Thursday for filing fraudulent tax returns while she was an employee of the IRS and for making an opportunity for others to file false tax returns, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Brown-English is scheduled to be arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin in Fresno.

According to court documents, Brown-English filed returns with claims for false deductions and credits, such as dependents, the child tax credit, and the head of household status. The false returns allowed Brown-English and other tax payers to obtain undue tax refunds or improperly reduce their tax liabilities.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Tax Division of the Department of Justice. Assistant United States Attorney Patrick R. Delahunty is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Brown-English faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, and dismissal from office. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and applicable statutory sentencing factors.

The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.