Buffalo Woman Sentenced For Conspiracy To Defraud The Irs

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:           (716) 843-5836
FAX:                 (716) 551-3051
 

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Keianna A. Jones, 29, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, was sentenced to time served, one year supervised release and ordered to pay restitution totaling $54,316.00 by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who handled the case, stated that the defendant conspired with others to submit false claims for income tax refunds.  Blank W-2 forms were obtained from local business establishments for use in committing this fraud. Jones also had others obtain legitimate W-2 forms from actual employers and then altered the forms to create new W-2s by changing income and withholding information so as to maximize the refund to be obtained. In working with others, a portion of the refund received would go to the defendant.

Co-defendant Dominique Taylor, 29, of Buffalo, NY, was also convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge, Shantelle P. Kitchen.