U.S. Department of Justice Marcos Daniel Jiménez United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
	99 N.E. 4th Street Miami, FL 33132 (305) 961-9001

DEFENDANTS IN FRAUDULENT TAX RETURN CONSPIRACY SENTENCED

Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Brian J. Wimpling, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, announced today that defendants, Vanessa G. Faulk, James N. Faulk, and Sheree R. Saunders were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Federico A. Moreno in Miami, Florida. Vanessa G. Faulk, a former manager at H&R Block in Opa Locka, was sentenced to thirty (30) months imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six (36) months supervised release, and ordered by the court to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of $852,458.69. Faulk was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $3000, representing $100 for each of the thirty (30) counts charged against her in the Indictment. Faulk pleaded guilty to all counts in the Indictment, which included conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286, and substantive counts in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287.

Sheree R. Saunders was sentenced to one (1) month imprisonment and five (5) months home confinement, to be followed by thirty-six (36) months supervised release for her part in the conspiracy. Saunders was also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS of $852,458.69. James N. Faulk was sentenced to four (4) months home confinement, to be followed by sixty (60) months supervised release for his part in the conspiracy, and also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS of $852,458.69. Both Saunders and Faulk previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the government with respect to claims in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286.

Mr. Jiménez commended the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Gay.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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