Houston woman charged with preparing false income tax returns

HOUSTON, TX -- A tax preparer has been arrested on charges she was responsible for more than a dozen fraudulent tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Authorities took Cheryl Kissentaner into custody today. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan at 2 p.m.

A federal grand jury returned the 15-count indictment March 30.

The indictment alleges that from 2015 to 2018, Kissentaner fraudulently prepared 15 false income tax returns for clients.

If convicted, Kissentaner faces up to three years of prison and up to a $250,000 fine for each count.

IRS-Criminal Investtigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.