Valorie Shaw has been sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay
restitution of $309,834 for conspiring to file false claims.
Shaw, 38, of Oakland, pleaded guilty on January 23, 2015, to conspiracy to
file false claims. Shaw was employed as a tax return preparer at “Kwiktax” for three years. Prior to working at Kwiktax, she held a variety of jobs, including working as a document transporter for the IRS. During 2011 and 2012, Shaw prepared false tax returns that she filed with the IRS. The
purported filers listed on those tax returns were not entitled to tax refunds
because the wage and tax withholding information listed on the returns were
fictitious. Shaw also filed false W-2 information that stated the purported
filers worked for the employers listed on the W-2s, even though she knew the
information was false. Shaw filed the false tax returns using personal
information she obtained illegally. Specifically, Shaw used personal
identifying information of Kwiktax clients, including their names, dates of
birth, and Social Security numbers, without these victims’ knowledge.
During 2011, Shaw assisted in filing false tax returns requesting refunds in
an amount no less than $487,248, for the 2010 tax year. During 2012, Shaw
assisted in filing false tax returns requesting refunds totaling $495,789 for
the 2011 tax year.
Shaw was indicted on August 14, 2014. She was charged with conspiracy to file
false claims, in violation of 18 USC § 286. Shaw pleaded guilty to that
charge. The Honorable Jon Tigar, U.S. District Judge, imposed the sentence.
Judge Tigar also ordered Shaw is to surrender on September 18, 2015, to begin
serving her sentence.
Further Information: Case #: CR-14-00439 JST-1
SOURCE: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California