Jennifer Siriphounsavath, 30, of Fort Smith was sentenced in U.S. District Court Monday to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay the Internal Revenue Service $144,382 - the amount that she helped 14 clients avoid paying when she falsified their tax returns from about January 2008 through April 2010.
She was assessed an additional $3,500 for the formal charge of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income-tax returns when she worked as a tax preparer for Laostar Income Tax Service.
Officials said Siriphounsavath used a common method to alter the returns. She falsely claimed education and residential energy credits and inflated property tax and charitable contribution deductions, according to a joint release from Conner Eldridge, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, and Christopher Henry, special agent in charge for the IRS.
Si riphounsavath wa s charged July 9 with 35 counts related to the clients’ tax statements and pleaded guilty to all counts on the same day.
Nocharges are pending for the 14 clients whose tax returns Siriphounsavath altered and there will be no further investigation.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 14 on 11/20/2012