Detroit Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty To Role In Conspiracy To File False Tax Returns

A resident of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to her involvement in a conspiracy to file fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, United States Attorney Barbara McQuade announced today.

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Carolyn Weber, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

Tiffiny Coleman, 35, entered the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge John Corbett O’Meara.

According to court records, Coleman was employed as a tax return preparer in Detroit.  In 2010, she conspired with others to prepare and electronically file federal income tax returns for the 2009 tax year that were false and fraudulent.  The conspiracy involved approximately 100 tax returns that stated that the taxpayers were employed by various businesses and had part of their wages withheld for federal income taxes when, in fact, Coleman and the others knew that the taxpayers were not employed and that the Forms W-2 were completely false.  In total, the tax returns caused approximately $482,977 in tax refunds to be paid out.

Coleman’s sentencing was set for October 7, 2014 at 10:15 am.  She faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and a fine of $250,000.  In addition, she will be required to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $482,977.

The case was investigated by special agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hiyama.