Shreveport tax preparer sentenced to 36 months in prison for filing false tax returns for self, customers

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a woman who owned a Shreveport tax preparation business was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for filing false tax returns for herself and her clients.

Deborah A. Turner, 47, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of making and subscribing a false tax return and one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return. She was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $128,828 restitution. According to the January 22, 2018 guilty plea, Turner owned Tax Express Refund, a tax preparation business located in Shreveport. The IRS revoked her Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) in January 2014, but she instead started using her daughter’s EFIN to continue filing tax returns. She filed numerous tax returns for clients for tax years 2011 to 2013 containing false information so they could claim deductions, credits and expenses to increase the size of their refunds. She also filed a false individual tax return for tax year 2013 where she failed to report $336,865 of income she received from her business.

“Those who file federal taxes on the behalf of others have a responsibility to follow the law and conduct business honestly and ethically,” Joseph stated. “I want to thank the IRS agents and prosecutors assigned to this case for their hard work in holding this tax preparer accountable.”

“As a paid preparer, Deborah Turner was afforded a high level of trust from both her clients and the United States government,” Special Agent in Charge, Thomas J. Holloman, III, IRS – Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office, stated.  “Turner violated that trust when she filed false income tax returns for herself and others, earning herself significant jail time.  IRS - CI will continue to pursue the prosecution of return preparers who engage in the same or similar criminal activities.”

IRS-Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan prosecuted the case.