Thelma Rodriguez-Garden, Tax Evasion, New York 2014

Bay Shore Woman Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

A Bay Shore, New York tax return preparer has been sentenced to prison for helping others prepare false tax returns, according to a recent sentencing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Thelma Rodriguez-Garden, 55, owned and operated Garden Insurance Agency Corporation, a tax return preparation business in Suffolk county. For tax years 2008 through 2011, Rodriguez-Garden prepared false individual income tax returns that included, among other falsities, grossly inflated or wholly fictitious itemized deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses, causing a loss to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of at least $107,459.

Rodriguez-Garden pleaded guilty to the charges on March 14. In addition to the prison term, she was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $107,459 in restitution to the IRS.

The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Jeffrey Bender and Brittney Campbell of the Tax Division.

Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of a False Tax Return is a serious crime that can have significant consequences. The sentencing of Thelma Rodriguez-Garden serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in tax preparation and the consequences of violating these principles.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo commended the special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, saying their work was instrumental in bringing the case to a successful conclusion.

Rodriguez-Garden's prison term and restitution order are a direct result of her crimes, which caused a significant loss to the IRS. The sentencing serves as a warning to others who may be considering engaging in similar activity.

The case highlights the importance of working with a reputable and honest tax return preparer, and the consequences of working with someone who engages in criminal activity.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/new-york-tax-return-preparer-sentenced-prison