Newark, New Jersey.The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed a 16-count criminal indictment against a tax preparer in New Jersey for allegedly collecting monies from COVID-19 relief programs and faking tax returns.
After being arraigned in federal court in Newark on Monday, Anne Bonilla, 53, of Linden, New Jersey, entered a not guilty plea to charges that included submitting false tax returns, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud. Bonilla, who goes by Anne Davinovish, is charged with planning a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to federal authorities, Bonilla inflated refunds by inflating expenses on at least 46 client tax returns through her company, Anne Accounting Services Inc. An estimated $340,000 in incorrect tax refunds were the outcome of this. Additionally, she allegedly filed more fake returns using fictitious employer and electronic filer identification numbers, resulting in over $790,000 in refunds, including over $100,000 associated with her own and her associates’ names.
Additionally, Bonilla is charged with filing false applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. The applications, according to the prosecution, obtained $241,200 in government disaster money by falsifying business information. One of these applications was filed under a third party’s name, and authorities connected it to Bonilla.
If found guilty, Bonilla may spend up to 20 years in jail for each conspiracy and wire fraud count and a maximum of three years in prison for each count of filing fraudulent tax returns. Each count carries a fine of up to $250,000, which is double the amount of money lost.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited IRS-Criminal Investigation federal investigators for leading the investigation and identifying the purported crime.
Sellinger’s office claimed in a statement that Bonilla’s activities took advantage of the tax system and emergency pandemic relief programs.
The scope of the accused scam, which included several clients, fictitious identities, and manipulated bank records, was highlighted by the prosecution.
The date of Bonilla’s trial is still pending.
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