FLORISSANT WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY ON TAX & FRAUD CHARGES

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY=S OFFICE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

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October 18, 2013

For Immediate Release

St. Louis, MO - Evelyn Silas, 53, Florissant, MO, pled guilty to 13 counts of tax and fraud charges. Silas appeared before United States District Judge Catherine Perry. Sentencing has been set for January 14, 2014.

According to court documents, Silas prepared twenty tax returns for friends and members of her family during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 tax years while employed full-time at the St. Louis Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Silas is alleged to have added phony information about educational expenses and business income and losses to obtain tax credits for those taxpayers. In all, Silas is alleged to have caused more than $90,000 in tax loss. Silas kept a large percentage of the refunds generated by the fraudulent returns for herself. Silas faces additional charges of making false declarations on her own 2009, 2010 and 2011 returns and for obstruction of the administration of the tax laws for creating phony documents to present to auditors looking into some of the returns.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment, a $100,000 fine or both. The government will also seek restitution of all tax losses.

In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation with assistance from the EEOC Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Albus is handling the case