KC Reporter

A former IRS employee has admitted guilt in a federal court for preparing fraudulent tax returns that resulted in over $200,000 in illegal refunds for her clients. Sandra D. Mondaine, 64, from Grandview, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the preparation and filing of false tax returns before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs.

Mondaine previously served as a contact representative at the IRS before her retirement. In her plea, she confessed to creating federal income tax returns with false claims for her clients. The indictment states that she assisted at least 11 individuals in filing 39 false income tax returns between 2019 and 2021, leading to a tax loss estimated at $237,329. There is disagreement on the exact total tax loss.

By including fraudulent items on these returns, Mondaine secured substantial refunds for her clients that they were not entitled to if the filings had been accurate. She charged fees based on either a fixed amount or a percentage of the refund.

The plea agreement requires Mondaine to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service as determined by the court and consents to a permanent injunction prohibiting her from preparing or assisting in federal tax return preparations for others.

Federal statutes indicate Mondaine could face up to three years in prison without parole; however, sentencing will be decided by the court following an investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker is prosecuting this case following an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigation.