Bridgeport Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty To Fraud; Must Pay IRS $112K

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Bridgeport tax preparer pleaded guilty Monday to fraud, according to federal officials.

Torise Baker, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent income tax returns, an offense that carries a maximum prison term of three years, a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut said.

For the 2014-16 tax years, Baker prepared about 3,600 federal tax returns for clients through 101 Things 2 Do LLC, a multi-service business she ran in Bridgeport, according to the news release. Many of the tax returns claimed false deductions, including unreimbursed business expenses, charitable contributions and tax preparation fees, the news release said.

In April 2016, Baker met with an undercover federal agent posing as a customer, according to the news release. The agent provided Baker with a W-2 for the 2015 tax year, told Baker they did not make any gifts to charity, and offered no information about any other valid deductions, according to the news release. On the tax return she filed for the agent, Baker included $5,520 in deductions for charitable gifts; $2,105 for parking fees, tolls, and transportation; and $2,660 for uniforms and protective clothing, according to the news release.

In addition, Baker failed to file her own federal tax returns for the 2015 and 2016 tax years, the news release said, adding Baker agreed to pay $112,956 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. She is scheduled to be sentenced June 13, according to the news release, and is free on bond pending sentencing. As a result of Baker’s criminal conduct, many of her clients’ filed tax returns will need to be amended, the news release said, adding Baker’s restitution may be reduced as her clients resolve their own tax liability with the IRS.