Local Woman Charged with Filing False Tax Return

HOUSTON – A local woman has been arrested following the return of a federal indictment alleging she filed a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Acting Special Agent in Charge Sarah Kull of IRS – Criminal Investigation (CI).

A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Vanessa Ben April 25, 2019. She was taken into custody today and expected to make her initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan.

The indictment alleges that from 2012 through 2015, Ben willfully filed U.S. Individual Income Tax returns she did not believe to be true and correct. She allegedly filed these returns knowing she was not entitled to claim several items on her returns.

If convicted, she faces up to three years in federal prison and a possible $100,000 maximum fine.   

IRS-CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.