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Six Tax Preparers Sentenced for False Tax Returns
Florida, USA – Six individuals have been sentenced for their roles in filing false tax returns, claiming over $6,663,976 in refunds. The scheme, which operated from 2010 to 2013, involved the use of stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The defendants, all of whom were employed by or associated with Family Tree Taxes, Inc., a tax preparation business in Miami Gardens, conspired to defraud the IRS by purchasing stolen personal identification information (PII) to file fraudulent tax returns. Defendant Tameka Walker, the owner and operator of Family Tree Taxes, Inc., purchased the stolen PII from various sources, including co-defendant Marlin Mejia, who stole documents containing patients’ PII from a hospital where he worked.
On August 8, 2016, Danny Horne, 30, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay joint and several restitution in the amount of $200,484. On July 29, 2016, Artravette Thomas, a/k/a Artravette Wilson, 41, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay joint and several restitution in the amount of $538,765.
On July 22, 2016, Tomeka Anderson, a/k/a Tomeka Owens, 36, was sentenced to 65 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay joint and several restitution in the amount of $774,320. On July 21, 2016, Natalie Mitchell, 42, and Artrice Reid, a/k/a Artrice Nelson, 40, were each sentenced to 57 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and were ordered to pay joint and several restitution in the amounts of $954,557 and $880,457, respectively.
On July 20, 2016, Tiffany Gaines, a/k/a Tiffany Morris, 38, was sentenced to 61 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay joint and several restitution in the amount of $607,377. Each of the defendants previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 286, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(1).
Four additional co-conspirators previously pled guilty and were sentenced for their participation in the fraudulent scheme. On December 15, 2015, Tameka Walker, 38, Celia Cromer, 43, and Maritynque Cromer, 25, were sentenced to 78 months, 50 months, and 36 months in prison, respectively, followed by three years of supervised release, and were all ordered to pay joint and several restitution in the amount of $796,535. On September 29, 2015, Marlin Mejia, 29, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,428.
Co-defendant Paganini Fleurantin, a/k/a Hu’Ra Al’Dey, 28, has pled not guilty and a trial date has not been set.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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