Laquinta Q. Fisher, Earned Income Credit Scheme, Oklahoma 2023

Lawton Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to 18 Months for Earned Income Credit Scheme

Laquinta Q. Fisher, a former tax return preparer from Lawton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for an earned income credit tax fraud scheme involving false reporting of income and dependents, announced Mark A. Yancey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Fisher, who prepared federal tax returns for individuals in the Lawton, Oklahoma, area for tax years 2010 through 2014, was a self-taught tax return preparer who recruited clients by word of mouth and by distribution of flyers. She advised her clients that all they needed was a dependent child in order to receive a refund from the government.

However, Fisher falsified returns for her clients by adding fictitious income to increase the earned income credit (EIC) and by adding false dependents to maximize the EIC, which resulted in false refund claims. Fisher prepared and submitted the returns for her clients electronically to the IRS.

Fisher pled guilty on October 5, 2016, and today, she was sentenced by United States District Judge David Russell to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $133,955 in restitution to the IRS.

The investigation into Fisher’s scheme was conducted by the IRS-Criminal Investigations, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rozia McKinney-Foster.

The case highlights the importance of tax preparation professionals being honest and transparent in their dealings with clients. Fisher’s actions not only cheated the government out of revenue but also undermined the trust that taxpayers place in the tax preparation process.

As a result of Fisher’s actions, the IRS will be left with a significant financial burden to recover the losses sustained due to her scheme. The case serves as a reminder to all tax preparers of the importance of honesty and integrity in their work.

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