The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida reported that U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard on Monday sentenced Nicole Johnson to 24 months in federal prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return.
Johnson pleaded guilty on Aug. 28.
According to the plea agreement, Johnson was the owner and operator of Financial Asset Tax Service at 6207 Bartram Village Drive, which offered tax return preparation services. During the tax years 2014-17, Johnson prepared more than 1,900 returns for individuals in which she falsified the amounts of deductions and tax credits owed to the taxpayers. As a result, those taxpayers received undeserved tax refunds.
Johnson also fraudulently claimed the General Business Credit and False Tax Credit for taxpayers who were not entitled to them and she inflated itemized deductions.
Based on the false returns prepared by Johnson, the IRS issued more than $1.3 million in undeserved refunds. Johnson was ordered to repay the government that amount in restitution.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.