A Longview tax preparer has admitted to participating in a federal tax fraud scheme, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas.
Marneitha Reese Scott, 57, of Gilmer, entered a guilty plea on February 18, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid, assist, counsel, or advise in tax fraud.
Court documents revealed that Scott owned and operated F.A.S.T. Financial Firm (FAST), which had two locations in Longview. Scott and others recruited additional tax preparers to work at these businesses and prepare income tax returns for clients. Prosecutors said Scott instructed the preparers to include false information on client returns—such as business losses when clients did not actually have businesses—in order to defraud the United States government. These fraudulent returns were filed by Scott or her employees at her direction. Clients paid fees for the preparation and filing of these returns.
Scott's actions resulted in a known tax loss of $243,899 for the years 2019 through 2022.
At sentencing, Scott faces up to five years in federal prison along with possible fines and restitution payments. The actual sentence will be determined by the court after considering advisory guidelines and other statutory factors once presentence investigations are complete.
The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson is prosecuting the case.
"The maximum statutory sentence is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors," stated officials.
