Former Owner of “Direct Tax” Preparation Business Pleads Guilty in Tax Fraud Scam

ATLANTA - Jessica L. Hills, the former owner of Direct Tax, has pleaded guilty for her role in a tax fraud scheme by using her business to file thousands of fraudulent returns.  Direct Tax was a tax preparation business with three locations in the Atlanta - College Park, Georgia, area.  

“The defendant’s conduct cost the U.S. Treasury millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn.  “Hills’ actions demonstrated a flagrant disrespect for the law, and compromised the personal information of hundreds of victims.”

“Hills’ actions caused considerable financial damage and personal inconvenience to thousands of taxpayers” stated IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot.  “We will continue to pursue individuals like Hills, who abuse positions of trust to commit crimes and victimize members of our community and innocent taxpayers for their own personal gain.”

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: During tax years 2012, 2013, and 2014, Direct Tax filed over 2,000 federal income tax returns, seeking millions of dollars in refunds.  These returns included either fraudulent information designed to increase the refund amount, or were filed using stolen identities.  Hills continued to file fraudulent tax returns even after police in College Park, Georgia, executed a search warrant at her business based on complaints from honest taxpayers, and after the IRS cancelled her electronic filing identification number.  In total, Hills filed tax returns claiming over $4 million in tax refunds.

Sentencing for Jessica L. Hills, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, is scheduled for November 9, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, FBI, Social Security Administration, U.S. Secret Service, and the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.