Press Release
Guilty Plea Entered For False Claims Against The Government In Connection With Fraudulent Tax Returns
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas
HOUSTON – Alisa Grisson has pleaded guilty to one count of making a false claim against the government, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
According to the plea agreement filed in the record of the case, Grisson acknowledged she prepared tax returns in her name and in the names of others. She acknowledged she knew the returns were false and fraudulent when she prepared them and caused them to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Grisson admitted in the plea agreement that these returns reported income that had not been earned and/or expenses that had not been incurred, thus claiming monies from the government in the form of tax refunds to which she and the other taxpayers were not entitled. Specifically, she admitted to falsely claiming a refund of more than $7.4 million for the 2009 tax year.
Grisson stipulated that the tax losses to the government is $674,284.62 and has agreed to pay that in restitution to the United States. Grisson further agreed never again to aid or assist in preparing or presenting tax returns for any taxpayer except herself and not to oppose any civil action brought by the United States seeking to enjoin her from preparing income tax returns for others.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake, who accepted the guilty plea today, has set sentencing for Jan. 28, 2014. At that time, she faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Corso is prosecuting.
Updated April 30, 2015
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