Jenniffer Torner Lopez, False Tax Returns, Arizona 2018

PHOENIX - In a shocking case of financial deception, Jenniffer Torner Lopez, a 40-year-old Glendale resident, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for her involvement in a brazen false tax preparation scheme.

According to court documents, Torner Lopez had previously pleaded guilty to one count of fraud in connection with identification documents and a separate count of illegal reentry after deportation.

As part of her plea agreement, Torner Lopez admitted to using identification cards to obtain taxpayer identification numbers and file returns for foreign nationals, many of whom neither lived nor worked in the United States. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) paid out over $246,000 in tax refunds as a result of Torner's scheme, with some of her share going towards the purchase of her residence.

The scheme, which was uncovered by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, resulted in Torner Lopez's home being forfeited as part of the restitution to the IRS.

Torner Lopez's case serves as a stark reminder of the severity of financial crimes and the consequences that come with them. Her sentence is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies in pursuing justice for victims of financial deception.

As a result of her plea agreement, Torner Lopez was ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, which will be satisfied in part by the forfeiture of her home.

The prosecution was handled by Gary M. Restaino and Mark J. Wenker, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

For more information on the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az.

Follow the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant/Respondent Name: Jenniffer Torner Lopez

Criminal Charge: One count of fraud in connection with identification documents and a separate count of illegal reentry after deportation

City and State: Glendale, Arizona

Exact Date: October 29, 2018

Sentence or Outcome: 15 months in prison

Dollar Amounts: Over $246,000 in tax refunds paid out by the IRS

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/glendale-woman-sentenced-filing-false-tax-returns