Alma J. Batson and her son Kelcee L. Batson, operators of a tax prep business in Riverside, Calif., have pleaded guilty to federal tax charges.
Alma Batson pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. Kelcee Batson pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement.
According to the indictment, between April 2004 and April 2006, the Batsons, an unnamed co-conspirator and others prepared and filed six individual tax returns for tax years 2002, 2003 and 2004 at their business, Enterprise Tax Service, in which they made claims for bogus credits and deductions.
They allegedly claimed inflated or false Schedule C business losses; deductions for charitable contributions; deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses, as well as tuition and fees; tax credits for child and dependent care expenses; and Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits.
As part of an effort to conceal Alma Batson's involvement in preparing and filing the fraudulent tax returns, she and her son allegedly made false statements to IRS special agents about inputting tax information and preparing tax returns.
The Batsons pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Percy Anderson and are scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 26.
