Tax Cheat Gets 18 Months: $1.2M Scam

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LATHROP, CA – Amy Evangelista, 60, is headed to the federal pen for 18 months. The San Joaquin County resident wasn’t slinging dope or robbing banks, but she was a key player in a $1.2 million scheme to rip off the IRS. Evangelista pleaded guilty to two counts of helping others file bogus tax returns, essentially cooking the books to dodge Uncle Sam.

Federal prosecutors say Evangelista wasn’t just filling out forms; she actively assisted in preparing and submitting fraudulent returns. That means she knew exactly what she was doing and played a knowing role in the scam. The Northern District of California court wasn’t buying her excuses, slapping her with the prison sentence today.

While $1.2 million sounds like a lot of cash, it’s hardly uncommon to see these white-collar crimes escalate to much larger sums. The feds are cracking down, though, hoping to send a message that messing with the IRS comes with serious consequences. Evangelista will also have to pay back every penny she helped steal.