Myrtle Beach Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Tax Fraud Charges

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Stephanie M. Campellone, age 46, of Myrtle Beach, SC, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, to Filing a False Tax Return, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1).  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that Campellone owns and operates Mastercare Contracting, Inc., a lawn care/landscaping business in Myrtle Beach.  During the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, Campellone diverted a large portion of Mastercare’s income into personal bank accounts and substantially underreported the business’s taxable gross receipts on tax returns.  By understating the business’s gross income, Campellone also substantially underreported her income on her personal tax returns.  Specifically, for the three years in question, Campellone understated over $1,460,000.00 in gross receipts.  As a result of this conduct, Campellone owes over $447,000.00 of additional income taxes.    

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Campellone can receive is imprisonment for 3 years and a fine of $100,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the Internal Revenue Service.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office is prosecuting the case.

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