Florida woman admits to filing false tax returns to obtain IRS refunds
Miami, Florida – A Florida woman has admitted to filing false tax returns to fraudulently obtain substantial tax refunds. Yolanda Samantha Dewar, a surgical technologist from Sunrise, Florida, pleaded guilty earlier this week in court to these serious charges.
Details of the Fraud
Court documents and statements reveal that between 2018 and 2020, Dewar created a trust and used it to file false tax returns with the IRS. She filed four fraudulent returns on behalf of this trust, seeking nearly $2 million in tax refunds. Despite being notified by the IRS that her claims were frivolous and without legal basis, Dewar continued her fraudulent activities. The IRS ultimately issued nearly $500,000 in refunds to Dewar’s trust based on these false claims.
According to the indictment, Dewar used part of the fraudulently obtained tax refunds for personal expenses. These included purchasing a car for a family member, undergoing plastic surgery, and renovating her home. These actions highlight the extent to which Dewar went to benefit personally from her fraudulent activities.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Dewar is scheduled to be sentenced on October 24. She faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison, along with a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. The exact sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division announced the guilty plea. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deric Zacca for the Southern District of Florida, along with Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Kavitha Bondada of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, are prosecuting the case. Their efforts underscore the importance of enforcing tax laws and holding those who commit fraud accountable.
