RENO, Nev. – A Winnemucca tax return preparer pleaded guilty today for her role in a tax fraud conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS Criminal Investigation.

Ginger Bidegary, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. United States District Judge Robert C. Jones received her guilty plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing on September 17, 2018.

According to court documents, Bidegary was a co-owner of Winnemucca Tax and Bookkeeping Service, a tax preparation and bookkeeping services business. She admitted that, from at least 2011 through at least December 2013, she conspired with her co-defendant to prepare and file fraudulent individual income tax returns on behalf of a client who is identified in court paperwork by initials only. She admitted she advised the client that by making small “investments” into various businesses she owned, the client could decrease her annual taxable income and increase her tax refunds. As part of the scheme, Bidegary would prepare false tax forms for the corresponding tax year that included large fictitious business losses in order to reduce the client’s taxable income and obtain a larger refund than what the client was entitled to receive. As a result of the false tax return she participated in drafting and filing on behalf of the client, Bidegary caused a tax loss of approximately $39,588, for tax years 2011 and 2012.

The statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Bidegary also faces a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Higginbotham. 

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