HOUSTON -- A local tax return preparer has been sentenced to prison for preparing false income tax returns, United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced Thursday. Nathalene Rice Pickens pleaded guilty in August to preparing false tax returns that inflated her clients’ refunds by $234,167 during 2002-2005. Pickens was sentenced Monday to 27 months in federal prison without parole. Pickens was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $234,167 and to serve a one-year-term of supervised release, during which she is prohibited from any involvement in any business preparing tax returns. The investigation leading to the charges against Pickens was conducted by the Houston Office of the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy Sledge.
