Couple Sentenced to Prison for Preparing More Than 200 Fraudulent Tax Returns for Clients

GEORGIA — A couple who fraudulently inflated refunds on more than 200 of their clients’ tax returns to drum up business and increase profits for their tax preparation business were sentenced to prison, according to officials.

Detrick and Natashia Tucker, a husband and wife who owned and operated a tax preparation business named T&T Express Tax located in Pine Mountain, Ga., were sentenced to serve a year and one day and three years and 10 months in prison, respectively, for crimes relating to the preparation of false tax returns, federal officials announced today.

During its three years of operation, T&T Express Tax filed at least 268 fraudulent federal tax returns that claimed over $1,000,000 in false refunds, officials said.

Detrick Tucker previously pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, and Natashia Tucker pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns.

Natashia Tucker was ordered to pay $1,483,025 in restitution and Detrick Tucker will pay $66,235 as restitution, officials said.

According to court documents, the Tuckers conspired to fraudulently inflate refunds on their clients’ tax returns in order to increase the popularity of T&T Express Tax and secure more business.