Natchez, Miss - Margaret Turner, 54, of Hermanville, Mississippi, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 12 months and 10 days in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for submitting fraudulent tax returns to the IRS, announced U. S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. Turner was also ordered to pay $122,465 in restitution to the IRS.
Turner entered a guilty plea on March 08, 2012, admitting that she prepared and submitted false income tax returns which resulted in the payment of earned income tax credits to which neither she nor the filers were entitled.
Turner is the fourth person indicted, convicted and sentenced on tax fraud charges this year in the Claiborne County area. These cases represent the continuance of an increased effort to stop the victimization of the nation’s tax paying citizens. The United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Mississippi has recently announced several indictments, arrests, and criminal prosecutions related to ongoing investigations of tax fraud.
“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who choose to defraud our tax system will be caught and held accountable for their actions," said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis.
Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS, stated “The willful filing of false tax returns is a serious crime, punishable under federal law. Turner’s prosecution is evidence that IRS is committed to the aggressive pursuit of individuals who intentionally violate the public trust and engage in this type of criminal activity."
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Harold Brittain.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
