Tax Preparer Arrested for Tax Evasion

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – On the eve of the federal tax filing deadline, a local woman has been arrested on charges of tax evasion and aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez along with D. Richard Goss of IRS-Criminal Investigation.

A federal grand jury returned a 50-count indictment against Cristina Gonzalez April 12, 2017, which lead to her arrest this morning. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby at 2:00 p.m. today.

Gonzalez is charged with 46 counts of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false U.S. Income Tax Returns for others as well as four counts of willfully filing a false income tax return for herself. The indictment alleges she knowingly filed tax returns that underreported her income resulting in a substantial tax due to the United States. Gonzalez also aided others in the preparation and filing of income tax returns that were false, according to the charges. Those returns allegedly included tax credits which Gonzalez knew the taxpayers were not entitled to claim.

Each conviction of tax evasion carries a possible maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, while aiding in the preparation of false tax returns carries a three-year-maximum term. Each conviction could also result in up to a $250,000 fine.

IRS-CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.

An indictment or information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.