Woman Sentenced for Role in Tax Fraud
A Los Angeles woman, who pleaded guilty to taking part in a scheme to defraud the federal government of about $1 million by filing bogus income tax returns by computer, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, prosecutors said Friday.
Cheryl Jones, who also uses the name Cheryl Staten, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Laughlin E. Waters, who also ordered her to serve three years probation after she completes her prison term.
Jones, one of eight defendants in the case, pleaded guilty in September to charges of conspiracy to defraud the government. The others also pleaded guilty.
The conspirators exploited newly implemented Internal Revenue Service procedures that allow taxpayers to file tax returns by computer and obtain quick refunds, prosecutors said.
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