On February 16, 2023, in the District of Nevada, Maria Mendoza pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false income tax returns.

According to the court documents, from approximately 2007 to 2017, Mendoza worked as a tax preparer on behalf of individual clients. Around 2013, Mendoza operated her own tax preparation business under the names “Taxes & More” and “Taxs y Mas.” Mendoza, in her capacity as a tax preparer, knowingly prepared and filed false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For tax years 2013 through 2017, Mendoza prepared more than 700 tax returns that claimed more than $3 million in refunds from the IRS. Based on her use of false deductions and dependents, Mendoza caused more than $1.2 million in tax loss through her preparation of those returns.

At sentencing Mendoza could receive a maximum of three years’ imprisonment per count, a term of supervised release, and monetary penalties.

Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available documents:  DOJ Press Release dated Feb. 16, 2023; and D. Nev., Plea Agr., filed Feb. 16, 2023.