Bertha Battle, Conspiracy to File False Tax Returns, North Carolina 2020

ROCKY MOUNT, North Carolina – Bertha Battle, a 40-year-old tax preparer, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to pay $59,268 in restitution for her role in a tax return scam that cost the government over $2 million.

According to court documents, Battle conspired with others to file false tax returns for clients of Community Tax Services LLC in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, from 2011 to 2016. The scam involved claiming false education credits and other illegitimate items to fraudulently generate tax refunds.

The IRS stated that the three-year scam resulted in a loss of more than $2 million in tax dollars. Battle pleaded guilty to the charge on June 18, 2020.

The sentencing was announced by G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) assisted in the investigation.

Battle was sentenced by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-00077-FL-1.

Bertha Battle, Defendant: Bertha Battle, Age: 40, Residency: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Crime: Conspiracy to File False Tax Returns, Date: June 18, 2020, Sentence: 16 months imprisonment, Restitution: $59,268.

The tax return scam perpetrated by Battle and her co-conspirators resulted in a significant loss for the government. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of tax compliance and the consequences of tax evasion.

Battle’s sentencing brings an end to a lengthy investigation into the tax return scam. The case highlights the need for vigilance in preventing and detecting tax-related crimes.

The U.S. government continues to crack down on tax-related crimes. This case is a reminder that tax evasion will not be tolerated and those who participate in such activities will be held accountable.

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