Chester Woman Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns

RICHMOND, Va. – Crystal Charmae Richards, 44, of Chester, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges related to her alleged role in filing false tax returns.

According to allegations in the indictment, Richards and another individual, David Wayne Schneider, worked as tax return preparers from 2011 through 2015.  During that time, they regularly prepared returns on behalf of clients that falsely claimed dependents, small business income or losses, and education credits, which resulted in payment of inflated refunds to the clients.  Richards also used the identities of certain clients without their knowledge or permission to file tax returns that generated refunds. In those instances, Richards pocketed the entirety of the refund.  Schneider pleaded guilty on January 27 and was sentenced to 24 months in prison on April 25.   Schneider was also ordered to pay $515,104.74 in restitution to the IRS for losses resulting from his preparation of false tax returns.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Thomas Holloman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after the indictment was returned yesterday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore is prosecuting the case.

This case was investigated by IRS-CI, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-155 and 3:15-cr-201.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.