Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest said in a press release that Kushauntia Jones has been sentenced to serve 20 years in the Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to tax evasion and computer fraud.

Jones, owner of Mobile Express Tax and Accounting Service, pled guilty to two counts of tax evasion and one count of computer fraud , the press release said.

According to information provided by Guest’s office, Mississippi Department of Revenue investigators determined that for 2013 and 2014 Jones had illegally collected overstated refunds in excess of $300,000.

The accounting also revealed that she used the funds for personal expenses and failed to claim the amount on her personal income tax returns.

The press release said that Jones, of Brandon, would prepare accurate federal and Mississippi tax returns for signature by clients.

Once signed, Jones filed fraudulent electronic returns seeking higher refunds. Jones would direct the IRS and the Mississippi Department of Revenue to send the excess amount to a bank account controlled by her, which she then used for her own expenses, the release said.

“This case required a tremendous amount of time to investigate and to obtain the necessary financial information needed to secure a conviction,” Guest said in the press release. “Their (Mississippi Department of Revenue) hard work, along with the assistance we received from the Mississippi College School of Law, has allowed us to place a fraudulent tax preparer behind bars.”

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