Lynn Tax Preparer Claudia Carredano Sentenced in $320K Fraud Scheme

Lynn tax preparer Claudia Carredano, 46, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for orchestrating a years-long scheme to defraud the IRS and steal tax refunds from unsuspecting clients. The hard-fought conviction, handed down today in U.S. District Court in Boston, exposes how Carredano exploited her position of trust to siphon more than $320,000 through manufactured dependents and falsified returns.

Carredano, who co-owned Maya Multi Services on Boston’s North Shore, admitted guilt in March 2016 to one count of wire fraud and one count of identity theft. Between 2008 and 2011, she filed dozens of fraudulent tax returns that included real individuals as dependents—people who had no connection to her clients. These phony claims inflated refund amounts, which Carredano then rerouted into her personal bank accounts.

U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. handed down the sentence with no leniency, ordering 30 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release. Carredano was also hit with $320,760 in restitution and forfeiture, a figure reflecting the full damage caused by her deception.

The fraud hinged on Carredano’s manipulation of client trust. While filing grossly inflated returns with the IRS, she provided her clients with tampered copies that omitted the fake dependents. This bait-and-switch ensured clients remained unaware while Carredano pocketed the excess refunds—money that never belonged to her.

The investigation, led by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation unit in Boston and supported by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, peeled back layers of financial deceit. United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Special Agent in Charge Joel P. Garland announced the outcome, emphasizing that fraud against the tax system undermines public trust and will be met with full prosecution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Pérez-Daple of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit prosecuted the case, building airtight evidence that sealed Carredano’s fate. The case stands as a stark warning to tax professionals who exploit their clients: the IRS and federal prosecutors are watching, and the consequences are severe.