Madison woman pleads guilty to filing false tax returns for others

A Madison woman pleaded guilty Friday to filing dozens of fraudulent tax returns for others for four years, according to a news release.

Brenda Miller, 43, was accused of preparing approximately 42 tax returns for friends and family members from 2008 to 2012, according to the office of United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin John W. Vaudreuil. The returns included fraudulent entries designed to increase the amount of tax refunds to the filers.

The amount of fraudulent refunds totaled $291,245, according to the release.

Vaudreuil’s office said the charge carries maximum penalties of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a three-year period of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.