Tax Preparer Who Worked In Connecticut Indicted On Federal Charges

CONNECTICUT — A tax preparer who served clients in Connecticut is facing federal fraud charges.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joleen D. Simpson, special agent in charge of IRS criminal investigation in New England, Friday announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned a 22-count indictment charging 33-year-old Florida resident Keyante Paul with tax fraud offenses.

The indictment was returned on June 15 and Paul was arrested Thursday in Florida, they said. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Irick in Orlando and was released on bond. Her arraignment in Connecticut is scheduled for June 30.

According to the indictment, Paul, through her business, Keys Tax Services, operated as a tax return preparer, and she traveled to Connecticut for part of the year to prepare returns for Connecticut clients.

Accorind to the indictment, for the 2015 through 2018 tax years, Paul prepared numerous federal tax returns for clients that included false income "adjustments" that reduced taxpayers' reported adjusted gross income, false expenses and losses in connection with sole proprietorship businesses that clients did not operate, and, in at least one instance, false charitable contributions.

The indictment charges Paul with 22 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count.

U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer R. Laraia and Lauren C. Clark.