Cheryl Singleton, 28, a tax return preparer from Atlanta, Georgia, has been charged in a $10,000 refund fraud scheme that involved falsifying tax returns and stealing identities of unsuspecting individuals, Grimy Times has learned.
According to a federal indictment, Singleton, who owned and operated Advanced Tax Services, a tax return preparation business with multiple offices in the Atlanta area, participated in a scheme to obtain tax refunds by filing false federal income tax returns starting in 2012.
The indictment alleges that Singleton falsely advised individuals that they could apply for a government stimulus payment by providing their personal identification information to Advanced Tax Services. She and her co-conspirators then used this information to electronically file false income tax returns in those individuals’ names, without their knowledge or consent.
The tax returns, each claiming a fraudulent tax refund of at least $1,000, were allegedly filed using the stolen identities, resulting in a total of $10,000 in false claims against the United States, the indictment states.
Singleton faces 10 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of aggravated identity theft, and 10 counts of filing false claims against the United States, carrying a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, five years in prison for each false claims count, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft counts.
If convicted, Singleton could face substantial monetary penalties and restitution in addition to the prison sentence.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo and U.S. Attorney John A. Horn commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorney Melanie A. Smith of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Krepp of the Northern District of Georgia, who are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is a stark reminder of the importance of caution when sharing personal identification information and the need for vigilance in protecting against identity theft.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office declined to comment further on the case, citing the ongoing investigation.
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Related Federal Cases
- Cordele Woman Indicted for Stealing Identities in Tax Fraud Scheme · Georgia
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- Phenix City Duo Indicted for $2.5M Tax Fraud Scheme · Alabama
- Harold Coley Indicted in $924K Identity Tax Fraud Scheme · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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