Oakland Resident Charged With Conspiring To File False Tax Returns With The IRS

SAN FRANCISCO – Valorie Shaw was charged yesterday with conspiring to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 286, United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez announced.

According to the Indictment, from April 2011 through April 2013, Valorie Shaw took identities from her employer and also received text messages from her co-conspirators containing personal identifying information. Shaw used that information to create W-2s to support the fraudulent claims for refunds. The Indictment alleges one person offered to sell her baby’s identity for use in the scheme to Shaw. Shaw requested that that the IRS wire the tax payments to debit cards that were sent to mailboxes that she rented. In total, Shaw submitted about $1 million in false tax returns to the IRS.

The maximum statutory penalty for each count of conspiring to file false claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286, is 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Thomas Newman is the Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting the case along with the assistance of Kathy Tat. The prosecution is the result of an investigation the IRS, Criminal Investigation.

(Shaw indictment )