Harvey Women Sentenced For Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False Tax Returns

United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOYCE D. GAINES, 63, and RACQUEL WALKER, age 32, of Harvey, Louisiana, were sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist in the preparation of a false or fraudulent tax return.

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced GAINES to 30 months’ incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Vance sentenced WALKER to 18 months’ incarceration, followed by one year of supervised release. Judge Vance also ordered GAINES and WALKER to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $180,408.00.

According to court documents, from in or about January 2011 and continuing though in or about December 2014, GAINES and her daughter, WALKER, operated Tax Town, a business operating in Gretna, Louisiana, which provided tax return preparation services for a fee. GAINES and WALKER filed false tax returns for clients that claimed a variety of fraudulent losses and deductions in order to obtain refunds to which the clients were not legally entitled. The total loss and restitution amount owed to the IRS for the fraudulent tax returns filed by GAINES and WALKER is approximately $180,408.00.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the IRS-Criminal Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Loan “Mimi” Nguyen is in charge of the prosecution.