Tax preparer gets 5 years in prison for filing fraudulent returns

A Macon, Georgia, tax return preparer was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday and pay more than $200,000 restitution after he pleaded guilty to filing false claims for tax refunds, according to the U.S. attorney’s Office.

Willie C. Grant owned and operated Grant Income Tax Bookkeeping and Check Cash out of his Macon home between 2003 and 2008. He filed false federal tax returns in the name of deceased people. He also used former clients’ names and social security numbers to file fraudulent returns without their knowledge or consent, according to a news release.

Grant had the IRS electronically deposit some refunds into his bank accounts and also pocketed cash from paper checks. He used the money to buy expensive cars and for personal living expenses, according to the release.