United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

LOCAL TAX RETURN PREPARER SENTENCED
TO NEARLY TWO YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

FORT WORTH, Texas — Rosie L. Hilburn was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 21 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. In addition, Judge McBryde ordered that Hilburn, who pled guilty in August to one count of preparing and presenting a false material tax return, pay a $5000 fine. Judge McBryde ordered that she surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by January 2, 2009.

According to documents filed in Court, Hilburn worked as a tax return preparer operating under the name “D and R Associates.” She admitted that she falsified a client’s tax return by making up $27,875 in medical expense deductions, $8,328 in personal property tax deductions, $19,375 in charitable donations, $2282 in other expenses deductions, and a $6260 miscellaneous deduction on the client’s 2002 income tax return. These false deductions created a $14,777 material tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald C.H. Eddins prosecuted the case.

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