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Six Preparers Plead to Fraud/ID Theft

dojSix tax return preparers have pleaded guilty to filing bogus tax returns in a scheme that produced $6,663,976 in fraudulent tax refunds. Four other individuals had previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced for their role in utilizing identification information stolen from the records of hospital patients to file returns through Family Tree Taxes, a tax preparation business based in Miami Gardens, Fla.

In the most recent action, Natalie Mitchell, 42; Artrice Reid, a/k/a Artrice Nelson, 40; Tomeka Anderson, a/k/a Tomeka Owens; 36, Tiffany Gaines, a/k/a Tiffany Morris, 38; Artravette Thomas, a/k/a Artravette Wilson, 41;, and Danny Horne, 30, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Family Tree Taxes was owned by Tameka Walker, 38, who was sentenced to 78 months in prison on December 15. That same day   Celia Cromer, 43,was sentenced to 50 months; and Maritynque Cromer, 25, was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Each must serve three years of supervised released following the completion of their terms and were ordered to pay $796,535 in joint and several restitution.

Marlin Mejia, 29, was sentenced to 21 months in prison on September 29 and ordered to serve three years of supervised released and pay $17,428 in restitution. Trial is scheduled to begin on June 13 for Paganini Fleurantin, a/k/a Hu'Ra Al'Dey, 28.

Court documents say from September 2010 through May 22, 2013, Walker purchased stolen personal ID information from several sources, including Meija, who worked as a radiology transporter at a hospital and stole documents containing that information from patient files.

Mitchell, Reid, Anderson, Gaines, Thomas, Horne, Fleurantin, Celia Cromer and Maritynque Cromer were employed by Walker as tax preparers. They prepared stolen personal information of 95 hospital patients to obtain $76,757 in refunds.

Gaines is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20; Thomas, Mitchell, Anderson and Reid on July 22; and Horne on August 8.

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