Three former Georgia tax preparers have been sentenced to prison for their roles in an identity theft scheme. The longest sentence, 56 months, was given to Greene Wylie Sheppard, who owned Quick Tax, a Cordele, Ga.-based preparation business.

Drake Software plans to construct a 10,000 sq. ft. call center that the company expects to open in January. The new facility, to be located in Haynesville, N.C., will house 50 new representatives.

A former Washington D.C.-area CPA has pleaded guilty to tax fraud in preparing fax returns while also failing to file income tax returns for himself or his businesses despite earning millions in revenue. John T. Hoang of Woodbridge, Va., faces a maximum of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine following the plea to willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns for tax year 2004.