Rebecca Tyner, age 56.
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance recently announced the arrest of two tax preparers and nine other individuals on charges that they filed false tax returns and claimed exaggerated refunds.
“These eleven arrests serve as a warning not only to tax preparers who fraudulently claim inflated refunds on behalf of their clients, but also to the taxpayers who knowingly hire them,” said Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone. “New York State protects taxpayers with one of the most rigorous fraud detection programs in the nation. Those who attempt illegal tax schemes here will be caught and prosecuted.”
The two preparers are Heather Sweet, 35, of 66 Massachusetts Ave., Johnson City and Rebecca Tyner, 56, of 22 Duke St., Binghamton.
Sweet was charged with eight felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one felony count of grand larceny. Tyner was charged with five felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing and one felony count of grand larceny. Both defendants were arraigned in the Binghamton City Court and pled not guilty.
Heather Sweet, age 35.
Sweet and Tyner allegedly participated in a scheme to defraud New York State by preparing fraudulent NYS income tax returns for friends and relatives for the tax years 2008 through 2011. While employed as tax preparers, they allegedly filed returns reporting false income and claiming refundable credits that were not owed.
If convicted, the two preparers could each serve up to seven years in prison. In addition, Sweet is facing fines in excess of $20,000, while Tyner faces more than $10,000 in fines.
Each of the nine defendants listed below faces one or more felony charges of offering a false instrument for filing. All nine taxpayers allegedly had their tax returns filed by either Tyner or Sweet, believing that they would receive tax refunds to which they were not entitled. If found guilty, each could serve up to four years in prison and face fines of up to $5,000.
Facing charges are Kimberly Berry, 35, of 12 Sycamore St., Johnson City; Chaci Copp, 33, of 19 Laurel St., Johnson City; Darnell Fernandez, 26, of 122 Conklin Ave., Binghamton; Lillian Kramer, 58, of 12 Meadow St., Binghamton; Richard Kramer, 52, of 12 Meadow St., Binghamton; Deana Lamoree, 37, of 33 Charlotte St., Binghamton; Dale Lunn, 57, of 49 Quilty Hill Rd. #4, Binghamton; Paul Sweet, 63, of 153 Seminary Ave. #3, Binghamton; and Danielle Warren, 36, of 318 Arthur Ave., Johnson City.
The Broome County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute all 11 cases.
A criminal complaint is an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
