Mary Ann Richard, Tax Return Preparation, Florida 2010

A former Treasure Coast tax return preparer has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for preparing false income tax returns.

Mary Ann Richard, of Ft. Pierce, Florida, was sentenced on April 22, 2010 by U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham for her role in assisting and advising in the preparation and presentation of 16 fraudulent income tax returns to the IRS, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2), and 2 counts of filing false personal income tax returns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206 (1).

The defendant was also ordered to pay the United States $183,026.00 in restitution.

Richard was employed by JB&L Tax Service, Inc, a tax return preparation business located in Fort Pierce, Florida, from January 2010 through April 2010. From July 2010 through March 2011, defendant Richard owned and operated M2 Financial Services, a tax return preparation business located in Fort Pierce, Florida.

At these businesses, Richard met with taxpayers and prepared tax returns as either an employee of JB&L Tax Services, Inc., or as an owner and operator of M2 Financial Services. Richard then assisted in the preparation and presentation to the IRS of income tax returns, knowing that these returns contained materially false information.

The false tax returns included false information regarding wages, business losses, dependents, education credits and child care expenses.

Richard also filed false personal tax returns (Forms 1040) for tax years 2009 and 2010 which included false information regarding employer, wages, business expenses, and personal deductions.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam C. McMichael.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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