Preparing False Tax Returns Lands Tampa Couple In Federal Prison

TAMPA, FL ? A Tampa w0man will spend 30 months in federal prison after being convicted of preparing fake tax returns, according to the Department of Justice.

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle sentenced Christel Joseph Wednesday.

Joseph pleaded guilty on Feb. 16.

According to court documents, Joseph and her husband, Naeem Joseph, were involved in a conspiracy to prepare false tax returns by claiming fraudulent refunds and credits to which their taxpayer-clients were not entitled, including education tax credits, fuel tax credits and dependent care credits.

Between 2015 and 2016, the Josephs helped prepare and file fraudulent tax returns from Haines City and Roanoke, Virginia. As a result, the Internal Revenue Service issued more than $230,000 in fraudulent tax refunds, according to court records.

On July 8, U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell sentenced Naeem Joseph to 21 months? imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy.

?Christel Joseph and her husband Naeem Joseph fraudulently charged their clients and loaded up their returns with tax credits, getting them bigger refunds than they deserved,? said Special Agent in Charge Darrell Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation's Washington, D.C., field office. ?Taxpayers who elect to pay a preparer should always do their due diligence beforehand to ensure they?re not victims of tax fraudsters like the Josephs. More information on selecting a reputable tax professional is available on IRS.gov.?