Cleveland, Ohio – A Cleveland woman is now facing federal charges after investigators uncovered what officials describe as a pattern of preparing and filing false tax returns on behalf of her clients, raising concerns about fraudulent practices within tax preparation services.
Sherita Booker, 46, was charged with a criminal complaint on April 9 for Aiding or Assisting in the Preparation of False and Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Returns. The charge comes after an investigation that examined how she handled tax filings for multiple individuals over a period of time.
Alleged scheme involving false business claims
According to court documents, Booker first gained experience in tax preparation while working at a national tax return preparation company between June 2016 and April 2017. After leaving that role, she began operating her own tax preparation business, using different entity names as well as her own name to conduct her services.
Investigators allege that Booker used deceptive methods while preparing tax returns for her clients. One of the primary concerns outlined in the case involves the use of fraudulent Schedule C forms. These forms are typically used to report profit or loss from a business, but agents found that Booker allegedly attached them to clients’ Form 1040 filings even when those clients did not own or operate any business…