Recent Tax Prosecutions Serve As A Reminder To Accurately File And Pay Taxes As The April 15 Deadline Approaches

HAMMOND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana remind all Hoosiers that the deadline for filing federal income tax returns is Monday, April 15. Although the filing season is nearing the end, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division work year round to protect the integrity of our nation’s tax system by investigating and prosecuting individuals who violate the tax laws.

U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “We continually work with the Internal Revenue Service to aggressively investigate and prosecute people who commit all levels of tax fraud. Cheating the IRS -- stealing from the United States Treasury -- is stealing from all of us.” 

“Taxpayers thinking about participating in fraudulent tax schemes, such as failing to report all forms of income or falsifying deductions should take a good look at the serious and detrimental consequences of taking the next step,” stated Special Agent in Charge Gabe Grchan of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. “Those who might consider preparing false and fraudulent tax returns should be aware of the extremely negative consequences that could result in prison time, large tax bills, including substantial fines, interest and penalties.”

As the tax filing season winds down next week, the following court actions serve as a reminder to taxpayers, to think before filing a false or fraudulent tax return and to be wary of any schemes that falsify your income or deductions.

RANDALL STILES, of Fort Wayne, was convicted and sentenced for failure to file a federal tax return and other federal violations.  STILES will serve 6 months in prison and pay $235,055 in restitution to the IRS.

TARA HIGHTOWER was convicted for preparing false federal tax returns.  HIGHTOWER owned and operated a tax preparation service TZH Consulting and collected fees for tax preparation services.  She did not report her collected fees on her personal federal tax returns.  HIGHTOWER was sentenced to 5 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $62,303 in restitution to the IRS.

SHERECE MOORE was convicted for assisting in the preparation of a false federal tax return.  MOORE was employed as a tax return preparer for Quick Sam Tax Refund in Gary, Indiana.  MOORE was sentenced to 12 months’ probation.

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