Former New York Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False Tax Returns | WPN World People News

A former Queens, on January 24, New York return preparer pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

“As we enter filing season, today’s plea should remind tax return preparers across the country that there are significant consequences for willfully preparing and filing false income tax returns,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg. “Preparers who seek to attract business and increase their profits by stealing from the U.S. Treasury through the filing of false returns will be investigated and prosecuted.”

According to documents filed with the court, from in or about 2004 through 2014, Vanya Thompson, 39, ran a tax return preparation business, which operated under a number of names, including Lyn Services, Ricardo Multi-Service and Katie’s Multi-Service. To generate larger refunds for her clients, Thompson falsified items on their returns such as charitable deductions and business income, expenses, and losses, causing a tax loss of more than $250,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 2. Thompson faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. Thompson also agreed to an order prohibiting her from preparing tax returns on behalf of others.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice