Regina Santos, a tax preparer from the New York area, pleaded guilty to knowingly preparing fraudulent tax returns in order to allow unqualified taxpayers to receive refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Between April 2007 and April 2008, Santos allegedly helped 40 clients prepare their tax returns from 2004 to 2007. Santos purportedly abused her profession and knowledge to file false deductions for her clients’ medical expenses, gifts to charities, employment and other expenses in efforts to help them receive an approximate total of $195,286.
If convicted, Santos faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.