Angleton Tax Preparer Charged With Preparing False Tax Returns

HOUSTON – A Houston federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Stanshelle Renique Gaul with 23 counts of preparing false client tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson along with Lucy Cruz, special agent in charge of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)
 
“Those who might consider preparing false tax returns this filing season should be aware of the consequences of their actions,” said Cruz. “This indictment emphasizes that the IRS and U.S. Attorney’s office will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who are suspected of defrauding America's tax system. Taxpayers should also be very cautious when selecting someone to prepare their returns because ultimately they are responsible for what gets filed with the IRS.”
 
The indictment was returned March 3, 2015. Gaul surrendered to authorities this morning and made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy K. Johnson at 2:00 p.m. today.
 
According to the indictment, Gaul operated a tax return preparation business in the Angleton area. The indictment alleges she prepared dozens of materially false client tax returns for tax years 2007 through 2010. The indictment also alleges she included in these tax returns fraudulent charitable and real estate tax deductions, fictitious employment expenses, false fraudulent child and dependent care expenses for people not known to her clients and bogus “side business” losses in order to generate excessive refunds totaling approximately $285,000.
 
If convicted, Gaul faces up to three years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine on each count. 

The case, investigated by IRS-CI, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Sledge Jr.