Idaho Falls tax preparer sentenced for preparing false returns

An Idaho Falls woman was sentenced to nine months in a federal prison Monday for preparing false income tax returns. April Carrillo, 43, doing business as “Carillo’s Tax Service” was also ordered to pay $93,945 in restitution. Carrillo appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill after pleading guilty to one count of assisting, advising, and counseling clients to submit materially false federal income tax returns to the IRS. According to a plea agreement, Carrillo and some of her employees submitted over 2,500 falsified federal tax returns from 2009 through 2011. The did that by claiming tax credits to which their clients were not entitled. Specifically, Carrillo and her employees would prepare tax returns that claimed the “child tax credit” and the “additional child tax credit” for taxpayers who did not qualify. The ploy increased clients’ tax refunds, which helped Carrillo’s Tax Service generate business. “Ms. Carrillo’s conviction and sentence make it clear that those who knowingly and falsely claim that the income tax laws do not apply to them will be prosecuted and ordered to pay,” said U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson. “I commend the fine work of the IRS criminal investigators in this case.” IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Office said, “Ms. Carrillo’s sentencing again emphasizes that the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who attempt to defraud America’s tax system.”