Eatonton tax preparer sentenced in fraud case

An Eatonton tax preparer has been sentenced to serve two years in prison and pay restitution of $46,398.

Patsy D. Baker pleaded guilty in federal court to aiding and assisting the filing of a false return April 13, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release.

While owning and operating Elite Tax Service out of a restaurant known as Kazzmo’s in Eatonton, Baker assisted in the preparation and presentation to the Internal Revenue Service of 15 fraudulent tax forms between Nov. 26, 2003, and Sept. 5, 2006, according to the release.

The forms were fraudulent in that the returns represented that taxpayers were entitled to larger income tax refunds than they would have been if their returns had been accurately completed, according to the release.

Baker also must serve one year of supervised release.