Tymonia Shafay Williams, False Tax Returns, Minnesota 2014

A 33-year-old tax preparer from West St. Paul, Minnesota, has admitted to filing false tax returns, netting her over $100,000 in refunds for her friends, family, and acquaintances. TYMONIA SHAFAY WILLIAMS, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of filing False, Fictitious and Fraudulent Claims against the government.

According to court documents, in February 2010, WILLIAMS devised a scheme where she prepared and electronically filed false tax returns on behalf of her loved ones. As part of the scam, she collected personal information from the individuals, including addresses, social security numbers, and Form W-2 or 1099s.

WILLIAMS completed a Schedule C for each false return, claiming that the individuals earned self-employment income from various jobs such as "hairdresser," "dancer," or "entertainer." By including false amounts of self-employment income on the tax returns, WILLIAMS was able to apply certain credits to fraudulently generate large tax refunds.

"Investigating refund fraud is a top priority for IRS Criminal Investigation," said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Karl Stiften. "Filing false tax returns is a serious crime that hurts innocent taxpayers. Law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office are serious about investigating these crimes and holding accountable those who defraud the government and taxpayers."

This case is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant United States Attorney John E. Kokkinen prosecuted the case.

TYMONIA SHAFAY WILLIAMS now faces the consequences of her actions. The total amount of the tax loss for all returns is at least $100,000. The Grimy Times will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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