A Bossier City tax preparer who pled guilty to filing false tax returns has been sentenced in Shreveport federal court.

U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley says 55-year-old Karen Cartagena will serve just under two years in prison. She's also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and pay more than $84,000 in restitution.

According to evidence presented at her March 19 guilty plea, Cartagena prepared and filed a fraudulent tax return, adding education credits for which she was not entitled.

"While most preparers provide excellent service to their clients, some dishonest return preparers file false tax returns and give clients a false sense of security," Finley said in a news release. "I want to remind dishonest tax preparers that we are watching their activities.

This case should send a loud message to any dishonest return preparer who might be thinking of engaging in criminal activity. I also want to thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecutor in this case for their hard work in bringing this defendant to justice."

Cartagena was previously convicted of preparing false tax returns.

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