A brazen scheme to rip off the government has landed a Joplin woman in hot water. Tara F. Garrett, 36, of Joplin, pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return as part of a scheme that resulted in at least $138,000 in refunds.
Garrett, who used Turbo Tax software to submit the returns, admitted to preparing and electronically submitting at least 20 fraudulent federal income tax returns on behalf of herself and others from February 2010 through April 15, 2015. She used false wage and/or income information on each return to increase the earned income credit, which in turn increased the amount of the tax refund.
The refunds were electronically deposited into Garrett’s bank account or split between her account and the account of the individual for whom the return was prepared. Garrett kept a significant portion of each refund as payment for preparing the fraudulent tax returns.
The total amount of refunds claimed by Garrett, for herself and others, through these tax returns totaled at least $138,135. Under federal statutes, Garrett is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole.
The case against Garrett was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Steven Mohlhenrich.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
The brazen scheme has left many wondering how Garrett was able to get away with it for so long. The investigation and prosecution of Garrett serve as a reminder that the government will not tolerate those who seek to cheat the system.
Related Federal Cases
- Tara F. Garrett, False Claim Upon Government, MO 2023 · Illinois
- Kalena Latoya Winston, Tax Return Fraud Scheme, Killeen TX, 2016 · Missouri
- Kevin K. Williams, Tax Return Mail Fraud, Alabama 2024 · Alabama
- Michael Jett Sentenced to 23 Months for Tax Evasion, MO, 2023 · Georgia
- Karen McGinnis Sentenced to 20 Months for Tax Skimming, Scranton PA… · Missouri
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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