Tax Preparer Sentenced

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A tax preparer in Kansas City, Kan., was sentenced Tuesday to six months in custody and six months in home confinement for preparing tax returns containing false information, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Shermaine C. Canady, 44, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of filing false income tax returns. In her plea, she agreed to pay $158,167 in restitution to the government.

Canady admitted that in one instance she prepared a return for a client containing false information in order to claim a $5,187 Earned Income Tax Credit and a Child Tax Credit of $1,000.

McAllister commended the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.