A Nipomo woman received a three-year federal prison sentence Monday for her role in several tax fraud schemes. [Tribune]
Imelda Sanchez, 42, pleaded guilty in Feb. 2013 to one count of making false claims against the government and one count of making false statements on a loan application. IRS investigators claim that Sanchez, who was working as a bookkeeper and tax preparer in Santa Maria, falsified tax returns in order to collect refunds and acquire a construction loan.
Between 2005 and 2009, Sanchez filed 39 fake tax returns using names and social security numbers of relatives. She collected $125,000 in false refunds, according to the IRS.
In 2007, Sanchez overstated her income on false personal tax returns in order to acquire a $1.6 million construction loan from Santa Lucia Bank. Santa Lucia since merged with Mission Community Bank.
Sanchez must now pay more than $485,000 in restitution to the IRS and Mission Community Bank.
She is scheduled to begin her prison sentence on Sept. 26.
