RICHMOND, Va. - A Chester woman who worked as a tax return preparer from 2011 through 2015 pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns.
According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Crystal Charmae Jackson, 44, admitted to conspiring with David Wayne Schneider to prepare and file false returns on behalf of clients that contained false entries as to clients’ Schedule C income, losses from small businesses, as well as clients’ dependents. These false entries resulted in the issuance of inflated refunds to the clients. On many occasions, those fraudulently obtained refunds were deposited into the bank accounts of Zimmerman Bail Bonding, a company owned by Schneider. Schneider was sentenced to 24 months in prison in April 2016, and ordered to pay $515,104.74 in restitution to the IRS for losses resulting from his preparation of false tax returns.
Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to submit false claims, and making false claims. Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison when sentenced on September 12. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kimberly Lappin, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); Anthony Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General; and Michael McGill, Special Agent-in-Charge, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr., accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:16-cr-155.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
