Tennessee Woman Pleads Guilty to Preparing False Tax Returns

The U.S. Department of Justice reports in its press release (quotation, not an independent finding): “A Tennessee woman pleaded guilty today to preparing false tax returns for others and willfully failing to file her own tax returns. According to court documents and statements made in court, Lynette Hogue prepared and filed with the IRS false income tax returns for clients of the tax preparation business where she worked. These tax returns contained false and fraudulent items, which generated refunds the clients were not entitled to receive. Hogue also willfully failed to file her own tax returns, even though she earned substantial income from her tax return preparation business and was required by law to file. In total, Hogue’s conduct caused a loss to the IRS of $4.1 million. Hogue pleaded guilty to one count of willfully aiding and assisting the filing of a false tax return and one count of willfully failing to file an individual tax return. She is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for aiding and assisting the filing of a false return and one year in prison for filing a false individual return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Isaiah Boyd III and Matthew C. Hicks of the Fraud Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll ”