Texas woman sentenced for filing false tax claims

North Texas tax preparer sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for filing false tax claims

Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) -- A tax preparer has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for filing hundreds of tax returns that falsely claimed a homebuyer tax credit for clients.

Federal authorities say Cora Latrice Hopkins also must pay $1.7 million in restitution. She was sentenced Monday following her guilty plea in November to filing a false claim with a federal agency.

Hopkins has been in custody since her arrest in August by agents with the Internal Revenue Service.

Hopkins, a resident of the Dallas suburb of Garland, worked as a manager for Instant Tax Service.

Authorities say in 2009 she filed 316 returns that claimed a first-time homebuyer tax credit. They say Hopkins either knew her clients were not eligible for the credit or did not submit records indicating eligibility.