New Bedford Woman Pleads Guilty to Tax Theft Scheme

BOSTON (WBSM) — A New Bedford woman pleaded guilty last week to stealing federal funds by filing false tax returns while working for a tax prep service.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Valentina Martinez, 50, pleaded guilty on December 3 to five counts of theft of government money.

Martinez worked for a national tax preparation service, and used her position to steal more than $45,000.

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Martinez would prepare tax returns for clients, and after giving them a copy would then add fraudulent claims for business deductions to those returns without their knowledge. She would then electronically file the false returns to obtain fraudulent refunds.

She would have the tax refunds deposited onto debit cards, which she would use to make ATM withdrawals, and also were used to pay for a Florida vacation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the scheme was uncovered when a client complained to the tax prep service about a missing refund. By that point, Martinez had already filed at least 12 false returns and caused more than $45,000 in losses to the IRS. She was then terminated from her job.

Martinez is scheduled for sentencing on March 6, 2025.

The charge of theft of government money carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution to the IRS.