TAX PREPARER PLEADS GUILTY TO FILING FRAUDULENT TAX RETURNS

(McALLEN, Texas) - Nicolasa Barrera, 42, of Mission, Texas, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, to filing fraudulent U.S. Income Tax returns, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Rodney E. Clarke announced today.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa, who accepted Barrera’s guilty plea convicting her of the federal tax offense, has set sentencing for May 12, 2011. Barrera now faces up to three years in federal prison for the conviction.

According to allegations in the indictment filed of record in this case, Barrera prepared and presented to the IRS 16 U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns for income tax years 2004 through 2006 for clients claiming various false deductions, including various Form 1040 Schedule A deductions such as Medical and Dental expense.

At re-arraignment, Barrera admitted to the court she submitted a false U.S. Income Tax return for one of her clients on January 30, 2006, in which she falsified a claim of medical and Dental expense in the amount of $11,156.00. Barrera further admitted she knew that her client was not entitled to such a deduction.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by special agents of the IRS-CI.

 

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