ATLANTA - Joan Leger has been sentenced to serve two years in federal prison for filing false tax returns that claimed over $4 million in fraudulent refunds for refugees who were unaware of the fraud.
“This defendant took advantage of refugees’ limited understanding of tax laws to file fraudulent tax returns in their names," said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Her fraudulent actions cost American taxpayers millions of dollars."
“An integral part of IRS Criminal Investigation’s mission involves detecting, investigating, and stopping fraudulent refund schemes," stated Acting Special Agent in Charge, James E. Dorsey. “Special Agents work year round to investigate and root out unscrupulous return preparers like Ms. Leger."
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: Between 2008 and 2012, Leger operated two tax preparation businesses in Stone Mountain, Georgia; “J & Company Tax Service" and “1804 Tax Group, Inc." While operating these businesses, she filed thousands of federal income tax returns that claimed fraudulent deductions, expenses, and credits, which resulted in her clients receiving fraudulent refunds. Leger’s scheme primarily targeted Bosnian refugees who spoke little or no English and had a limited understanding of tax laws. In particular, Leger included false income and created phony businesses, faking both income and expenses for those businesses. Leger received monetary fees from the fraudulent refunds. In total, Leger prepared tax returns claiming over $4 million in fraudulent refunds.
Joan Leger, 48, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $134,961. Leger was convicted on March 12, 2015, after she pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Brown prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
