News Release for Immediate Release October 20, 2003 District Tax Preparer Sentenced for Tax Fraud (Washington, DC) Carolyn B. Sherrod, a District tax preparer, was sentenced October 17 in District of Columbia Superior Court on various counts of individual income tax fraud. A criminal investigation by the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) determined that Sherrod fraudulently prepared individual income tax returns. Sherrod pled guilty to two counts of false presentations for tax years 1997 and 1998, two counts of unwillful tax fraud for tax years 1997 and 1999, and one count of nonwillful tax fraud for tax year 1998. "We are aggressively pursuing all types of tax evasion, fraud or misrepresentation," said Phil Brand, deputy chief financial officer for tax and revenue. "Disregard for the District's tax laws will not be tolerated." Sherrod was sentenced to six months of imprisonment, which were suspended on the condition she serve five years of supervised probation and perform 400 hours of community service. In addition, Sherrod has agreed to make restitution to OTR in the amount of $8,395 and pay a criminal fine of $5,000 to the District's Antifraud Fund. Anyone wishing to report tax fraud or tax abuse in the District of Columbia is encouraged to contact OTR's Tax Fraud Hotline at (800) 380-3495 or via email.