Claudia Marie Mays, Tax Evasion, Louisiana 2014

MONROE, La. – Claudia Marie Mays, 41, of Bastrop, La., has been sentenced to 39 months in prison for filing fraudulent income tax returns using stolen identities and false information.

According to evidence presented at her guilty plea on June 17, 2014, Mays prepared fraudulent income tax returns and filed 15 fraudulent tax returns using stolen identities and false information from January 2011 to April 2011. The IRS issued $94,043.15 in fraudulent refunds because of the scheme.

Mays was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James for one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false tax return, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of identity theft. She was also ordered to pay $94,043.15 restitution and was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Claudia Marie Mays’ co-conspirator, Carla Inzina, 53, also of Bastrop, assisted Mays in filing one of the fraudulent returns by obtaining another person’s personal information and using it to file a false return without the person’s permission. Inzina was sentenced to three years of probation for one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return.

The IRS Criminal Investigation-Shreveport Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.

Mays’ sentencing marks the end of a long and complex investigation into her tax preparation scheme. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting personal identity and the consequences of filing false tax returns.

Claudia Marie Mays, a Bastrop tax preparer, has been held accountable for her crimes. Her 39-month prison sentence and $94,043.15 restitution order are a testament to the commitment of law enforcement to protecting taxpayers and upholding the integrity of the tax system.

The case of Claudia Marie Mays serves as a warning to others who may consider engaging in similar schemes. The consequences of filing false tax returns and identity theft can be severe, and the IRS and law enforcement agencies will continue to investigate and prosecute such crimes vigorously.

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