Davidson County Woman Sentenced For Filing False Tax Return And Aggravated Identity Theft

GREENSBORO, N.C. – A Davidson County woman was sentenced to 39 months in prison for filing a false tax return and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Ripley Rand.

Veronica Levonne Jones, age 40, of Lexington, North Carolina pled guilty on December 2, 2013 and was sentenced on May 13, 2014. Chief United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., sentenced Jones to a total of 39 months in federal prison, ordered her to pay $199,000 in restitution, and imposed one year of supervised released after she leaves prison.

Jones operated Tax Refund Solutions (TRS) in Lexington, North Carolina. During the operation of that business, Jones knowingly falsified her income and used the name and social security of another person on her tax return.

"During tax filing season, return preparers and taxpayers should be aware of the serious consequences facing those who aid or assist in the filing of fraudulent tax returns," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Daniel D. Burget, IRS-Criminal Investigation. "Those who fly in the face of the tax laws face investigation, prosecution, and if convicted, significant prison sentences and substantial fines."

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Inman.