Related Federal Cases
- Tracey Hernandez, Tax Fraud, Burlington NC, 2021-2022 · North Carolina
- Helen Jean Anderson, Tax Refund Fraud, SC, 2023 · Alabama
- Michael Smith, AI-Generated Song Fraud, Manhattan NY, 2023 · North Carolina
- Karen McGinnis Sentenced to 20 Months for Tax Skimming, Scranton PA… · Pennsylvania
- Kenneth Thom, Investment Adviser Fraud, New York NY, 2023 · New York
Defendant’s Guilty Plea to Tax Return Fraud Scheme
A Winston-Salem, North Carolina resident has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns. Claudia Lynette Shivers, who co-owned and operated two tax return preparation businesses, pleaded guilty to the crimes.
According to court documents, Shivers and her co-conspirators falsified items on clients’ tax returns, including dependents and Schedule A deductions, in order to fraudulently maximize their refunds. Between January 2014 and April 2017, Shivers and her co-conspirators prepared approximately 519 false tax returns, which claimed approximately $1.3 million in bogus refunds.
Shivers also directed clients to hand-write false information on tax forms and other documents used in the preparation of their returns. Additionally, she held training sessions for her employees, during which she would instruct them on how to manipulate the information on tax returns in order to obtain refunds to which the clients were not entitled.
Shivers’ sentencing is scheduled for December 20, 2018. She faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Shivers’ co-conspirators, Shannon DeWayne Patterson, Kristyn Dion Daney, and Rakeem Lenell Scales, have all pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and are awaiting sentencing.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Matthew G. T. Martin commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Robert J. Boudreau and Lauren Castaldi of the Tax Division and Criminal Division Chief Clifton T. Barrett of the Middle District of North Carolina, who are prosecuting the case.
The case highlights the importance of protecting the integrity of the tax system and preventing the loss of revenue to taxpayers. The Tax Division will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who engage in tax-related crimes.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
