Utah Woman Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

Gillette Barton, a resident of Taylorsville, Utah, pleaded guilty Monday to presenting a false claim to the United States, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Barton appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Evelyn J. Furse in Salt Lake City.

According to the plea agreement, in October of 2009, Barton filed a false 2008 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return claiming an income tax refund of $58,299. Barton’s false claim was based on the use of false Forms 1099-OID, Original Issue Discount.

Barton faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys Michael Romano and Stuart Wexler of the Justice Department’s Tax Division handled the prosecution.

Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 19, 2013, before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ted Stewart in Salt Lake City.