Former Assistant Manager of Virginia Beach Tax Service Sentenced to Prison

NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk woman was sentenced yesterday to more than four years in prison for her role in a conspiracy to prepare false tax returns for her customers.

According to court documents, Tinesha L. Bert, 33, was the assistant manager of a now-closed, Virginia Beach-based tax preparation service known as Express Tax Preparation Services. From December 2014 to February 2016, Bert was responsible for using false information in her customers’ tax returns in order to generate a higher refund amount. In some cases, she falsely stated that the customer had dependent children so that the customer would qualify for beneficial tax credits. She also filed returns using the names and social security numbers of real persons without their knowledge. The court found that she was responsible for a tax loss of approximately $174,000.  Last month, the manager of the tax business, Markita D. Simon, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy C. Stoker prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-149.