Sabinal Income Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison

In Del Rio today, Mary Davis Reyes, owner and operator of Fast Tax in Sabinal, TX, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for preparing a false tax return, announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge William Cotter in San Antonio.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Alia Moses ordered that Reyes pay $87,371.08 restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and be placed on supervised release for a period of one year after completing her prison term.

On November 19, 2014, Reyes pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return.  By pleading guilty, Reyes admitted that in April 2009, she knowingly prepared a false and fraudulent income tax return which claimed a $5,673 refund for a client. 

According to court records, during tax years 2007 through 2009, Reyes provided false information under the Earned Income (EIC) Provisions of the tax code in order to maximize her clients’ refunds. The IRS-CI investigation determined that Reyes aided and assisted in the preparation and filing of a number of similar false tax returns with a combined loss of $87,371.08.  

“Today’s sentencing of Mary Davis Reyes is a reminder to honest taxpayers to take care when choosing a tax return preparer,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation San Antonio Special Agent in Charge William Cotter. “Reyes’ Fast Tax service was in the business of trying to pull a fast one on the IRS. Putting abusive return preparers out of business is a top priority for IRS-CI. Taxpayers looking for tax preparation information are encouraged to visit IRS.gov.”

Assistant United States Attorney William R. Harris prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.