Texas Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax Returns

A Texas resident was sentenced to serve 22 months in prison today for preparing false tax returns, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney John R. Parker for the Northern District of Texas.

According to documents filed with the court, Lourdes Ramirez, a Mexico national unlawfully residing in the United States, operated TX ASAP Tax Services and Fiesta Tax Service located in Greenville. From 2011 through 2014, Ramirez prepared approximately 1,163 federal tax returns that included fraudulent business income, losses, credits and deductions and sought refunds to which her clients were not entitled. Ramirez intended to cause a tax loss of approximately $1,155,383.

In addition to the term of prison imposed, Ramirez was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $128,958.85 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by District Judge Ed Kinkeade. Judge Kinkeade also ordered Ramirez removed from the United States to Mexico following her sentence.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Parker commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Alexander Effendi and Melanie Smith of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.