San Leandro Woman Pleads Guilty To Filing False Claims

OAKLAND, Calif. – Latasha Ringo, age 35, pleaded guilty yesterday for her role in a false tax refund scheme, United States Attorney Melinda Haag and IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jose M. Martinez, announced.

According to her plea agreement, Ringo conspired with others to file false tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds for 2010. As part of the scheme, Ringo sold false Form W-2s to other individuals so that they could file false tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds.

Ringo, of San Leandro, Calif., was charged in a one-count indictment with Conspiracy to File False Claims on November 15, 2012.

Ringo’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 28, 2013, before District Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton in Oakland. The maximum statutory penalty for each count of Conspiracy to File False Claims, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C § 286, is ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting this case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.