3rd “Fast Cash Tax” Employee Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Defraud IRS

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Ashley Walker, 33, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that Jason Jimenez owned an income tax return preparation business known as Fast Cash Tax.  Jimenez hired Walker and trained her to prepare false tax returns. From January 2012 to April 2014, when Walker withdrew from the conspiracy, Walker and other employees of Fast Cash Tax prepared false tax returns on behalf of numerous clients. The tax returns were falsified to increase the amount of the Earned Income Tax Credit claimed, which yielded larger refunds for the clients than they were entitled to receive.  During the period of Walker’s participation, the conspiracy netted approximately $95,180 in fraudulently obtained refunds. Jason Jimenez has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Special Agents with the Internal Revenue Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James D. Robnett.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.