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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2002 WWW.USDOJ.GOV |
TAX (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 |
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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OBTAINS INJUNCTION AGAINST GEORGIA TAX RETURN PREPARERS WASHINGTON, D.C. - On November 14, 2002, a federal court in Georgia permanently barred Eddie Lee Mims and Erma Jentinico Mims, of Sylvania, Georgia, from preparing federal income tax returns. Judge B. Avant Edenfield of the District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, also ordered the Mimses to contact all of their clients and inform them that federal tax law does not allow a credit for slavery reparations, "second-class" citizenship or any other similar tax credit. "People who prepare income tax returns claiming false deductions or credits are asking for trouble for themselves and their clients," said Eileen J. O'Connor, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Tax Division. "Injunctions are step one in shutting down tax scam operations." According to Justice Department papers filed with the court, the Mimses prepared at least 70 tax returns for clients claiming an estimated $2.8 million in fabricated tax credits. |
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