⏱ 2 min read
A Houston tax prep shop owner allegedly cooked the books for her clients, filing fake tax returns that swindled the IRS out of thousands. Bobbie Zermeno, aka Roberta Villarreal, made a living charging hundreds per return, then lied about business losses and car mileage to inflate refunds.
From 2017 to 2022, Zermeno’s scheme raked in big bucks – literally. She allegedly earned hundreds per client, then kept quiet about her prep fees. The fake claims added up to thousands, with one return alone valued at over $10,000.
The IRS caught wind of the scam and brought the hammer down. On March 25, a federal grand jury handed down a 14-count indictment, which was unsealed when Zermeno was taken into custody.
The indictment lists 14 counts of aiding in the preparation and filing of false tax returns, with each count carrying a possible three-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.
Zermeno’s next move is a Houston federal court, where she’ll face the music. For now, she’s got a long road ahead – and a chance to prove her innocence.
Related Federal Cases
- Peter Zavell, Filed False Tax Return, Florence FL, 2000 · Florida
- Jefferson Kincade, Tax Refund Theft, Palestine TX, 2015 · Alabama
- Theodore Paul Victor, Jr. Faces Income Tax Evasion Charges, Beaumon… · Oklahoma
- Odunowo Gets 54 Months for $1.5M Tax Fraud Scheme, Washington DC, 2023 · Oklahoma
- Lawrence Michael Day, Mortgage and Tax Evasion Scheme, TX, 2023 · Oklahoma
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: Texas
- Location: TX
- Source: DOJ Press Release
