A North Carolina tax preparer has received an 11-year sentence for preparing fraudulent returns and training others to do that same. At his firm, "Herb's Helping Hands", Martin prepared false returns and taught others and supervised them in concocting or inflating income and deductions.
Martin and his co-conspirators purchased and sometimes stole identity information of others, including minor children, listing them on clients' returns in order to generate larger refunds. Sometimes, he diverted refunds into his bank account or an account he controlled.
His niece, Jessica Shanice Taylor, was sentenced on May 9 to serve 24 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, part of Martin's scheme. She also was ordered to pay $36,569 in restitution to the IRS. Area news stories say three of his nieces were involved.