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Laughlin tax preparer sentenced for fraudulent returns

A Laughlin tax preparer was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison this week for filing false tax returns, according to the IRS.

Maria Garcia, 51, admitted in a plea agreement in September that her phony tax returns cost the IRS $109,906.

Her indictment alleged that she used electronic filing identification numbers of other tax preparers to file tax returns seeking phony refunds that included improper deductions on behalf of her clients.

John Collins, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Las Vegas, cautioned people to be leary of tax preparers who promise them refunds that seem too good to be true.

Contact Jeff German at jgerman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135. Follow @JGermanRJ on Twitter

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