Kim Brown, 40, a self-proclaimed ‘ghost’ tax preparer in Augusta, GA, has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison for her part in a fraudulent tax return scheme that bilked the IRS out of half-a-million dollars. The Richmond County resident was caught red-handed after pleading guilty to two counts of Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation and Filing of False Income Tax Returns.
Brown, who ran her illegal operation from her home, was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall to pay $541,912 in restitution and serve one year of supervised release following her prison term. The federal system offers no parole for Brown’s crime.
According to court documents, the 40-year-old concocted false income figures and fraudulent deductions on tax returns for clients, all without their knowledge. She pocketed a percentage of the refunds as fees, never providing clients with copies of the returns or reviewing them before submission to the IRS.
The scheme was finally brought to light by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division, which worked hand in glove with local law enforcement to bring Brown to justice. ‘Kim Brown stole money from taxpayers,’ U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap declared. ‘This sentence holds her accountable for her actions.’
In a stern warning to other potential scammers, Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation unit emphasized, ‘Not signing off on a tax return is one sign of ghost tax preparers at work.’ Brown’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of hiring unscrupulous tax preparers.
This case was investigated and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs, III, who vowed to continue pursuing those who seek to defraud the American public through financial deception.
Related Federal Cases
- Georgia Tax Prep Smasher Sentenced to Prison · Georgia
- Regina Renee Ellis Gets 46 Months for Tax Fraud Scheme · Alabama
- Sisters-In-Law Guilty Of Tax Fraud · Georgia
- Cordele Woman Indicted for Stealing Identities in Tax Fraud Scheme · Georgia
- Pine Mountain Tax Preppers Accused of Fraudulent Returns · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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