St. Louis, MO - RICKER BROOKS and ZONDRA JONES have been charged for their alleged preparation of false tax returns by overstating business expenses for the tax years 2009 and 2010. Brooks owns Brooks Accounting Service, providing accounting and tax preparation services. Jones owns Alliance In-Home Care Services, which provides home health care services to individuals.
The indictment alleges that after Jones reviewed the tax returns that Brooks prepared for her, she thought that the contract labor expense for her business was overstated. Although there was discussion between the two of them regarding the overstatement, Jones and Brooks agreed to file the tax returns with the overstatement. After the IRS began to investigate the returns, Brooks prepared false 1099 forms and check schedules, which falsely represented payments made by Alliance In-Home Care Services to contract employees. Jones provided these false documents to the IRS.
Brooks, St. Louis County, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the US, and two felony counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return; Jones, Florissant, Missouri, was indicted on one felony count of conspiracy and two felony counts of income tax evasion. The indictment was returned Aug. 19, but remained sealed until the arrest of Mr. Brooks earlier today.
If convicted, each count of conspiracy and income tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and or fines up to $250,000; aiding in the preparation of a false income tax return carries a maximum penalty of three years prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Muchnick is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
