Waco, Texas Tax Preparer Tries Wacko Scheme

Tax preparer, Janell Lighter, from Waco, TX  pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States in federal court.

In the indictment and information presented at the hearing it revealed Lighter assisted her co-defendant Stacey Anderson in preparing and filing false tax returns.  Anderson operated her business out of her home in Waco. In 2013 and 2014, the payer filed returns that claimed false business items and/or education tax credits in order to fraudulently increase their client’s tax refunds from the IRS.  Lightner and Anderson prepared returns for clients in Texas, Maryland and the District of Columbia.  The tax loss caused by Lightner to the IRS is estimated at over $1.3 million.

In June, 2019, Anderson also pled guilty to the conspiracy charge along with filing a false personal income tax return in 2014.  Anderson admitted that her actions caused a loss of over $10 million to the IRS.

Both defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.  Both are due to be sentenced at the end of the year.