4 Tax Preparers Indicted for Fraud: Maryland Officials

BALTIMORE, MD — Tax preparers from Baltimore and Prince George's counties were indicted recently for fraud. State officials said the accused used the personal information for multiple victims to file bogus tax returns and collect tens of thousands of dollars in refunds.

Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Comptroller Peter Franchot on Thursday announced the filing of four criminal cases aimed at upholding public trust in the system. “Tax preparers have a special knowledge and a special responsibility to file honest returns,” Frosh said. “It’s bad when anyone tries to cheat on their tax returns. When it is a tax preparer, it is inexcusable.”

The cases announced include:

• Darwin Acosta, 30, of Prince George’s County was indicted Jan. 20 by an Anne Arundel County grand jury on one count of felony theft scheme between $10,000 and $100,000, and one count of identity fraud. According to the indictment, between March 2014 and June 2014, Acosta prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns using the personal information of numerous victims. In total, Acosta collected about $53,700 in bogus tax refunds.
• Rochelle Cunningham, 46, of 915 Argonne Drive in Baltimore, was also indicted Jan. 20 by an Anne Arundel County grand jury on 11 counts. According to court documents, between March 2005 and April 2009, Cunningham used the information of multiple victims to file fraudulent tax returns and had more than $80,000 in tax refunds deposited into her bank accounts. She has been charged with one count of felony theft scheme between $10,000 and $100,000, and 10 counts of identity fraud.
• Scott L. Jacobson, 38, of Baltimore County is charged with 16 criminal charges for filing fraudulent tax returns during the 2014 tax season with inflated tax refund claims. Authorities say he unlawfully obtained more than $10,000 in state tax refunds. Jacobson has been charged with 13 counts of false return preparation, counts for theft and attempted theft, and one count of filing a false personal income tax return.
• Frosh's office on Tuesday charged Evelyn Thompson, 54, of Prince George’s County, with one count of felony theft scheme between $10,000 and $100,000. According to court documents, between January 2014 and April 2016, Thompson, who was not registered as a licensed tax preparer in Maryland, prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns for numerous clients. In most of the cases, Thompson inflated the tax refunds her clients would receive, and she charged a fee for the preparation and filing of tax returns, but didn't report the fees on her personal tax returns.

The cases are being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.