San Antonio Tax Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing False Tax Returns, Over $3.8 Million in Restitution

SAN ANTONIO - A San Antonio woman was sentenced in federal court to 53 months in prison for aiding or assisting in the filing of a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents, Natasha Sheree Banks-Brown, 45, owned and operated a tax preparation business named "Tasha's Total Tax Service," beginning in 2016. In December 2020, IRS Criminal Investigations began investigating an increasing number of questionable tax returns prepared by Banks-Brown.

The investigation revealed that Banks-Brown filed individual tax returns on behalf of her clients which included false and fraudulent deductions and credits which significantly increased their tax refunds. Banks-Brown never quoted a specific price for her services and said that she would take her fee out of the return. As part of her fraudulent scheme, she used tax preparation software that allowed her to designate returns to be deposited into a bank account she controlled. The client would then receive a portion of the return via a transfer from Banks-Brown's bank account to the client's account, with Banks-Brown keeping a percentage as her fee. Multiple clients testified at trial that they were unaware of her actions and were never given the opportunity to review the return in detail before signing. Evidence introduced at trial indicated that Banks-Brown filed close to 1,200 tax returns between 2017 and 2021 that resulted in over $8 million dollars of refunds.

Banks-Brown was indicted on April 3, 2024, and arrested April 16, 2024. She was found guilty of all 11 counts after a four-day jury trial on April 10, 2026. In addition to the 53-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge David Ezra ordered Banks-Brown to pay $3,824,887 in restitution and $1,100 in special assessments.

"Tax professionals like the defendant in this case take advantage of the intimidating and complex nature of the tax system, using their clients as unwitting pawns for personal gain. Unfortunately, this type of scheme is relatively common, and this sentence should serve as a warning that promises of inflated tax refunds can be too good to be true," said U.S. Attorney Simmons. "Now, Natasha Banks-Brown is paying the price with a nearly five-year stay in federal prison for abusing the trust of the clients she victimized and for stealing from the American taxpayer. This office and our prosecutors remain focused on these cases from investigation through sentencing because every one of us cares about doing the next right thing and delivering justice for our fellow Americans."

"Banks-Brown is a financial predator who used the tax refunds of her clients to feed her greed. We are talking about someone who repeatedly scammed her clients and her country. Thanks to the jury who convicted her, the special agents that investigated the case and the U.S. Attorney's Office, we returned the favor and took her freedom along with her money," said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr., of IRS-CI's Texas Field Office. "She is everything we warn you to avoid. Criminal return preparers like Banks-Brown promise you riches and steal from us all."

IRS-CI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chung and Ryan Groomer prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

###