The Tax Office of
Michael Hogberg

Bridgeport Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud

by | Aug 2, 2022 | Enforcement Updates

August 2, 2022

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Torise Baker, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to three months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for a tax fraud offense. Judge Shea also ordered Baker to serve the first month of her supervised release in home detention, and to pay a $7,500 fine.

According to court documents and statement made in court, for the 2014 through 2016 tax years, Baker, an enrolled agent permitted to represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service, prepared approximately 3,600 federal tax returns for clients through 101 Things 2 Do, LLC, a multi-service business she operated in Bridgeport. Many of these tax returns claimed false deductions, including unreimbursed business expenses, charitable contributions and tax preparation fees.

In April 2016, Baker met with an undercover federal agent posing as a customer. The agent provided Baker with a W-2 for the 2015 tax year, told Baker that he/she did not make any gifts to charity, and offered no information about any other valid deductions. On the tax return that she prepared and filed for the agent, Baker included $5520 in deductions for charitable gifts; $2,105 for parking fees, tolls, and transportation; and $2,660 for uniforms and protective clothing. Those deductions were false.

In addition, Baker failed to file her own federal tax returns and pay taxes for the 2015 and 2016 tax years.

Judge Shea ordered Baker to pay $112,956 in restitution to the IRS.

As a result of Baker’s criminal conduct, many of her clients’ filed tax returns will need to be amended. The amount of Baker’s restitution may be reduced as her clients resolve their own tax liability with the IRS.

On March 21, 2022, Baker pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent income tax returns.

This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.