Awett Tedla, the former owner of Speedy Tax Services LLC in Washington, D.C., and District Heights, Md., was recently sentenced to 21 months in prison for her involvement in a tax fraud scheme. According to the Justice Department, Tedla was found guilty of conspiring to file false tax returns, wire fraud, and tax evasion.
Tedla allegedly prepared and electronically filed fraudulent income tax returns for her clients. These returns reportedly included false information about businesses and tax credits in order to inflate tax refunds. As a result of this deceptive behavior, the IRS suffered a tax loss of over $171,500. In addition to her clients’ returns, Tedla also filed a tax return for her own business that underreported gross receipts.
The Justice Department’s efforts to crack down on fraudulent tax schemes send a clear message that individuals who attempt to cheat the system will face severe penalties. These actions demonstrate the serious consequences of engaging in tax fraud and the importance of honesty and accuracy when it comes to filing tax returns.
