Mississippi woman sentenced to federal prison for tax fraud

NATCHEZ, Miss. (WDAM) – A McComb girl was sentenced to serve 18 months in federal jail for getting ready false tax returns for her purchasers.

Elizabeth Stephens, 41, additionally was ordered to pay $58,668 in restitution to the Inner Income Service.

The announcement was made Friday by Darren J. LaMarca, United States legal professional; and James E. Dorsey, particular agent in cost/Inner Income Service Legal Investigation/Atlanta Area Workplace.

“The sentence (Friday) is an instance of the results individuals face once they put together and file false returns,” stated Lisa Fontanette, assistant particular agent in cost/IRS Legal Investigation/Atlanta Area Workplace.

“As a tax preparer, Elizabeth Stephens did not observe the moral obligations of her career.”

In accordance with courtroom paperwork and information revealed at her plea listening to, Stephens, 41, labored at a tax return preparation enterprise in McComb.

Between 2014 and 2017, Stephens ready tax returns for purchasers that included a number of false objects, together with false W-2 info and Schedule C Revenue or Loss from Enterprise Varieties.

These false bills and altered W-2s lowered taxable revenue and maximized the Earned Revenue Credit score, growing the overall refund quantity. 

Stephens was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 5, 2022.  She pled responsible on Oct. 12, 2022.

The proprietor of the tax return preparation enterprise, Shameka Wells, was sentenced on July 13, 2021, to 13 months in federal jail for submitting a false tax return.

The case was investigated by IRS Legal Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Legal professional Kimberly Purdie prosecuted the case.

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