Blackfoot woman sentenced for tax fraud

Two Idaho women, one from Blackfoot and one from Nampa, have pleaded guilty to tax fraud.

The Idaho State Tax Commission said the plea deals were part of its heightened effort to prosecute tax fraud.

Nancy Jensen of Blackfoot pleaded guilty in June to two counts of filing a false income tax return. She was sentenced to serve 10 days in jail, 5 years of probation, and 100 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay a $500 fine.

Mandie Stacy of Nampa pleaded guilty in May to income tax evasion and welfare fraud. The Tax Commission claimed she fraudulently received $26,000 in food stamp and Medicaid benefits and failed to report the fraudulent income on her taxes. She was ordered to pay $27,000 in restitution and serve up to 12 years in prison.

“People who cheat on their taxes not only rob the state of the funds needed to provide critical services, they also increase the cost paid by honest taxpayers,” said Tax Commission Chairman Ken Roberts. “We will continue to work with county prosecutors and others to pursue these tax evaders.”

The Tax Commission finds tax fraud from its routine identity theft fraud detection, tax audits, and tips from prosecutors and the public.