Source: United States Department of Justice News
A Texas woman was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for willfully assisting clients in the preparation and filing of false tax returns with the IRS.
According to court documents, between 2014 and 2017, Adela Cruz operated a business in Uvalde County preparing tax returns. To inflate her clients’ refunds, Cruz claimed on those returns false education credits, dependents, and business profits or losses. Cruz did not sign these false returns as the preparer, but rather concealed her involvement by using fictitious taxpayer emails. Cruz also claimed false education credits on her own tax returns for 2015 and 2016.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge David Counts ordered Cruz to serve one year of supervised release and to pay a $1,500 fine and $129,239 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jaime E. Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Robert A. Kemins and Nicholas J. Schilling, Jr., of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuted the case.