Sharhonda Law, a tax preparer from Haughton, Louisiana, has been sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for tax fraud. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. also ordered her to pay $123,455 in restitution and serve one year of supervised release following her prison term.
Law owned and operated Law’s Tax Service in Shreveport and was the sole preparer at the company. Court documents revealed that she filed a fraudulent 2019 tax return for a client by including a false Schedule F form, which claimed non-existent farming income and expenses. This resulted in an incorrect refund when the client actually owed taxes.
The investigation showed that Law's client had no farm and did not provide any farming-related financial information to her. On November 20, 2024, Law pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in making a false return.
Further investigations uncovered similar falsifications on six other clients' returns and inaccuracies on two of her personal returns. She also failed to file returns for certain years. The total criminal tax loss was calculated at $123,455.
The Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Robin S. McCoy.