Tax Prep Scam

⏱ 2 min read

Dormeshia A. Haire, a 38-year-old tax preparer from St. Charles, MO, is accused of running a tax prep scam in St. Clair County, IL, where she allegedly filed false tax returns for her clients and herself, defrauding the government of unknown amounts. The scheme, which lasted from 2019 to 2021, involved underreporting personal employment income and submitting fraudulent business expenses on behalf of her clients. Haire was originally charged in April 2024 and now faces a nine-count superseding indictment. The motive behind the scam is presumed to be financial gain, as Haire sought to reduce her own tax liability and increase her clients’ refunds.

The investigation, led by IRS-Criminal Investigation, revealed that Haire’s actions were not only illegal but also put her clients at risk of being held liable for the false returns. According to U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft, "Cheating the tax system is no victimless crime because honest taxpayers are left to pay the price alone."

IRS-Criminal Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Melissa McFadden warned taxpayers to avoid shady tax preparers, stating that "when they get caught, you could be on the hook for the damage they cause." If convicted, Haire faces up to 20 years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard.