St. Clair County tax preparer sentenced to 37-month imprisonment and ordered to pay over $700,000 in restitution for filing hundreds of false tax returns

BENTON, Ill. - A federal district judge sentenced a St. Clair County tax preparer to 37 months' imprisonment after she admitted to filing false tax returns and falsifying her personal income and clients' business expenses.

Dormeshia A. Haire, 38, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one count of false statements on tax return, one count of wire fraud, and three counts of aiding and abetting in submitting false and fraudulent returns. Haire was indicted in April 2024 but continued filing hundreds of false tax returns while on bond. Haire took actions to conceal her conduct by filing tax returns under other individuals' names. Since 2019, Haire profited more than one million dollars in tax return fees from clients.

"Combating violent crime and stopping fraud against taxpayer funds are the two highest criminal priorities for the Department of Justice," said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. "Dormeshia Haire filed hundreds of false tax returns, kept filing them after she was charged, and hid the scheme under other people's names. That conduct demands prison time and full restitution for the losses she caused."

In April 2026, a federal district judge revoked Haire's bond and ordered Haire detained for bond violations. According to court documents, Haire admitted to filing hundreds of false returns for hundreds of clients. In the tax returns, Haire falsely represented that her clients had businesses they did not own and inflated clients' business losses. Due to these false records, Haire's clients received tax refunds to which they were not entitled. Haire's under reporting of income for her and her clients resulted in an outstanding tax obligation owed to the Internal Revenue Service of more than $600,000 with an additional $48,000 owed to the State of Illinois.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness of this case. Dormeshia Haire profited by filing hundreds of fraudulent tax returns for clients for a fee," said IRS Criminal Investigation Kansas City Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. "She is directly responsible for more than $600,000 stolen from the U.S. Treasury through her fraud. Now through the investigative expertise of IRS-CI's special agents and the U.S. Attorney's Office, Ms. Haire is out of business."

Following imprisonment, Haire will serve 3 years of supervised release. The judge also ordered Haire to pay $716,406 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Department of Revenue. Haire agreed to pay interest on her restitution.

IRS Criminal Investigation led this investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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.