Date: April 12, 2022 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov LAREDO — As the filing deadline for tax season 2021 approaches, a woman has been ordered to federal prison following her conviction of preparing and filing false income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Lisa Gonzalez pleaded guilty Sept. 9, 2021. Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana sentenced Gonzalez to 12 months and a day in federal prison. Judge Saldana further ordered Gonzalez to pay $301,908 in restitution to the IRS. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing that from 2012 to 2015, Gonzalez learned how to conduct her own scheme while working for another tax preparer. That individual was also convicted of the same crime. At the time of her plea, Gonzalez admitted she prepared fraudulent tax returns for clients under a business known as BG Tax Service. The false income tax returns resulted in a total loss of $301,908 in tax revenue for the IRS. In the fraudulent tax returns, Gonzalez made false claims for earned income tax credit, business income losses, child tax credits, farm income, itemized deductions, residential energy credits, general business credits and American Opportunity credits. Gonzalez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. IRS-Criminal Information conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam L. Goldman prosecuted the case.
