KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a former Grandview, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to filing a false claim for a federal tax refund as part of a nearly $158,000 scheme.
Kelsey R. Jones, 34, of Houston, Texas (formerly of Grandview), pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to making a false claim.
By pleading guilty today, Jones admitted that she filed 36 false individual income tax returns on behalf of herself and others, claiming approximately $157,998 in refunds, from February 2009 to January 2011.
Jones recruited individuals to file federal income tax returns under their own names. Jones created false and fictitious inflated income and revenue information for the individuals. Jones then used the false information to prepare and file fraudulent federal tax returns electronically with the IRS, which often claimed tax credits, such as the earned income tax credit, to which the individuals were not entitled.
Jones often had a portion of the fraudulent refunds - totaling $17,292 - direct deposited into one of her bank accounts, sometimes without the taxpayers’ knowledge.
Under federal statutes, Jones is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
