A Union woman today admitted preparing fraudulent income tax returns on behalf of her clients, causing losses of over $320,000, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Officials said Toni Ciullo, 43, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an information charging her with one count of aiding and assisting others in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Ciullo was an owner and operator of Full Spectrum Consulting LLC in Union. For tax years 2010 through 2014, Ciullo used a number of fraudulent practices, including increasing claimed losses and credits for certain businesses, increasing her clients’ unreimbursed employee expenses and medical and dental costs, and creating fictitious businesses, all so her clients would receive higher refunds than those to which they were actually entitled.
Officials said Ciullo admitted that the bogus returns resulted in a tax loss to the government of approximately $322,537.
The charge to which Ciullo pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 7, 2018.