Weymouth Owner Of Healthcare Company Charged With Tax Fraud

WEYMOUTH, MA – A Weymouth woman who co-owned a Boston-area home healthcare company was charged in federal court Tuesday with defrauding the IRS of over $1 million. Sheila O'Connell, 33, and 51-year-old Hannah Holland, of Quincy, were charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.

Federal authorities allege the pair, who owned and operated Erin's Own Home Healthcare Inc., cashed over $3.5 million in business checks through nominee accounts controlled by an unnamed person from 2010-2014. During that same time period, Holland also personally cashed over $77,000 in business receipts, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

None of the funds were reported to the IRS or accounted for in the company's tax filings, and the pair instead provided their tax preparer with a limited set of financial records that did not cover the diverted funds, according to authorities. This caused the IRS to lose $1,126,112, the USAO said.

The conspiracy charge carries a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years supervised release, and a fine $250,000. The charge of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns carries a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

Editor's Note: This report was written using information provided by the U.S. Attorney's office. An arrest does not imply a conviction.

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