Tax Prosecutions Announced as the Income Tax Filing Deadline Looms

As the filing deadline for income taxes quickly approaches, United States Attorney Trent Shores announced that charges have been filed against four individuals for tax crimes.

“Tax Day is nearly upon us and millions of honest Americans will meet their tax obligations as required. However, there are those who will seek to cheat the system, and they must be held accountable. Those who file false returns, embezzle payroll taxes, commit identity theft to receive fraudulent refunds or fail to file tax returns at all can expect to be investigated and prosecuted."

During this tax season, the following individuals have been charged with fraudulent tax practices:

On April 3, 2019, Earenest J. Grayson Jr., 45, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was indicted for 10 counts of failing to account for or pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) payroll taxes withheld from wages paid to employees of his business, Zealcon Corporation (Zealcon), during the years 2014, 2015, and 2016. Grayson was also indicted for three counts of failing to file corporate income tax returns for Zealcon for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, and failing to file his own personal income tax returns for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015. The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant Chief Andrew Kameros of the Tax Division is prosecuting the case, in coordination with Assistant United States Attorneys Charles M. McLoughlin and Victor A.S. Régal,

On April 4, 2019, Gina Lisa Preble, 59, of Bartlesville, was charged by Criminal Information with bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return. Preble was employed as a clerk at TransWood Carriers Incorporated from 2011 until her termination in 2017. In an effort to disguise her intent to steal funds, Preble allegedly created fraudulent “draft checks” which she mixed in with legitimate business expense “draft checks” and provided to a supervisor for signature. Preble deposited draft checks totaling $394,058.20 into her personal checking account, and used the funds for her own personal gain. Additionally in 2016, Preble signed and submitted a false tax return, omitting the stolen funds as income. The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. McLoughlin and Catherine J. Depew are prosecuting the case.

On April 5, 2019, Kevin Glenn Petty, 54, of Sand Springs was charged by Criminal Complaint with Theft of Government Property.  Petty allegedly filed fraudulent 2016 income tax returns under the name of taxpayer Woodson J. Nightwalker. The $3,800 tax refund amount was deposited into a Green Dot card account, which funded a Green Dot pre-paid debit account. Petty filed five additional fraudulent returns, which were intercepted by the IRS. The six false returns filed by Petty sought a total of $12, 303 in fraudulent refunds. The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspector. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case.

On April 10, 2019, Jennifer Leann McCormick 44, of Nowata, was charged by Misdemeanor Criminal Information with failure to file a tax return for 2013. The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin is prosecuting the case.

A Criminal Information or Criminal Complaint is a set of allegations that, if a case were to proceed to trial, the government would need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.