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August 31, 2020

IRS Employee Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns

On June 30, 2020, in the District of Massachusetts, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Lead Contact Representative Jennifer True pled guilty to multiple counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return and filing of a fraudulent tax return by an employee of the United States. True was initially charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on January 13, 2020.

According to the court documents, from approximately February 2012 through April 2017, True electronically filed more than 590 Federal tax returns, most of which she prepared for other individuals, often in exchange for money. She charged between $40 and $100 for preparing tax returns, knowing that she was in violation of rules prohibiting such activity by IRS employees. In addition, True prepared at least 70 IRS Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, that included materially false items, such as false Individual Retirement Account deductions, false itemized deductions, and false dependent and childcare expenses, that allowed True and others to receive refunds to which they were not entitled. Witnesses interviewed during the course of the investigation advised that they had not provided True with the false information on their returns and that they did not know that True was including such false information on the returns she prepared for them.

At sentencing, True faces up to three years' imprisonment for each count of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns and up to five years' imprisonment for each count of filing a fraudulent tax return as an employee of the United States. True also faces supervised release of up to three years; a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater; a mandatory special assessment; and discharge from employment. Furthermore, True owes restitution to the IRS of at least $640,918.98.

    Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents: D. Mass. Crim. Comp., filed Jan.13, 2020; D. Mass. Plea Agr., filed Jul. 1, 2020; and D. Mass. Info., filed Jul. 1, 2020.