San Diego Tax Return Preparer Indicted for Preparing False Tax Returns | WPN World People News

A San Diego tax return preparer was arrested Thursday after being indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of California on 36 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false federal income tax returns, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

The indictment alleges that Marla Lynn Cunningham owned and operated Cunningham’s Tax Service, a tax preparation business located in El Cajon, California. According to the charges in the indictment, in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Cunningham prepared false individual income tax returns for others, which included false Schedules C that reported fictitious business losses and false Schedules A that reported inflated or fictitious itemized deductions, such as charitable contributions and medical, dental and unreimbursed employee expenses. Cunningham also attached forms claiming fictitious education credits that her clients were not entitled to receive.

If convicted, Cunningham faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice