United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy | U.S. Department of Justice
A New Bedford woman, Valentina Martinez, has admitted to stealing federal funds by filing false tax returns to obtain fraudulent refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Martinez, 50, pleaded guilty on December 3, 2024, to five counts of theft of government money. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 6, 2025, by Senior U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris.
Court documents reveal that Martinez was employed by a national tax preparation service. She prepared returns for clients and provided them with copies but then added fraudulent business deductions without their knowledge. These falsified returns were electronically filed to secure illegitimate refunds. The funds were deposited onto debit cards used by Martinez for ATM withdrawals and personal expenses including a vacation in Florida.
The scheme came to light after a client complained about a missing refund leading to her dismissal from the job. By that time, she had filed at least 12 false returns resulting in over $45,000 in losses to the IRS.
This case is part of the Stolen Identity Refund Project (SIRF) operated by the IRS aimed at identifying tax preparers who exploit stolen identities to file fake tax returns and claim unauthorized refunds.
The charge against Martinez carries a potential maximum sentence of ten years in prison along with three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution to the IRS. Sentences are determined based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy alongside Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation's Boston Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Victor A. Wild from the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is handling the prosecution.
