Chicago Heights Woman & Tax Preparer Filed More Than 2 Dozen Fraudulent Tax Returns: U.S. Atty

CHICAGO — A Chicago Heights woman has been indicted in federal court for allegedly preparing more than 25 fraudulent tax returns for clients of her Flossmoor tax preparation business, the U.S. Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois said.

From 2020 to 2024, Jaydine Brown is alleged to have prepared and assisted in the preparation of 26 false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of clients of her business, Hall Tax & Services Corp. of Flossmoor, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Brown helped prepare federal tax returns that "fraudulently overstated and misrepresented tax credits, deductions, income, and expenses in order to fraudulently reduce the taxpayers’ tax liability and claim refund amounts to which they were not entitled," the indictment states. Brown also filed an individual tax return for herself in 2021 that substantially underreported her income, the indictment states. She also failed to file a corporate tax return for her business for the tax year 2022, the indictment alleges.

Brown, 43, of Chicago Heights, is charged with 26 counts of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false or fraudulent tax returns, one count of making false or fraudulent statements on a tax return, and one count of willful failure to file a tax return. Brown pleaded not guilty to the charges during her arraignment on Friday in federal court in Chicago.

A status hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24.