Charges Allege Trio Engaged In Home Buyer Credit Scam

PHILADELPHIA - Darlene Johnson, 49, Sheryl McPhail, 49, and Tracey Hill, 49, all of Philadelphia, were charged today in a four count information alleging that they engaged in a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service with false claims of First Time Home Buyer Credits (FTHBCs), announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to submit false claims to a government agency and submitting a false claim to a government agency.

According to the information, Johnson prepared tax returns for individuals whose names and identifying information she received from McPhail and Hill. In those returns, Johnson submitted false claims to the government, on behalf of clients, totaling approximately $390,680.65 and received FTHBCs totaling approximately $367,180.65. Johnson paid McPhail and Hill out of the proceeds from the returns where the FTHBC was fraudulently received. Johnson is charged with two additional counts of submitting a false claim to a government agency.

If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum possible sentence of 25 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, three years of supervised release, and a $400 special assessment. McPhail and Hill each face a maximum possible sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, three years supervised release, and a $200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations in conjunction with the Philadelphia Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Linwood C. Wright, Jr.

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UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE Contact: PATTY HARTMAN
EASTERN DISTRICT, PENNSYLVANIA Media Contact
615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250 215-861-8525
Philadelphia, PA 19106

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UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525