TAX PREPARER GUILTY OF PREPARING FRAUDULENT TAX RETURN
LYDIA D. ROBERTS, age 50, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before United States District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to preparing a fraudulent tax return, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the factual basis, ROBERTS admitted that on approximately March 12, 2007, she falsely represented that a taxpayer had Schedule C expenses as well as a qualifying dependent on the taxpayer’s 2006 tax return and caused the false return to be presented to the Internal Revenue Service. The false information then made this fraudulent return eligible for a tax refund to which the alleged taxpayer was not entitled.
ROBERTS faces a maximum sentence of three (3) years imprisonment and a fine of $100,000. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 18, 2010.
The case was investigated by the Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri.
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