在2024年2月初，联邦检察官宣布，布鲁克林East Flatbushd一家报税公司的前老板已认罪，承认通过长达三年的虚假报告节约能源支出，而骗取税局大约110万美元。
梅琳达·雅各布（Melinda Jacob）现年 48 岁。2 月 5 日在布鲁克林联邦法院接受治安法官詹姆斯·周（James Cho）的听证后，将面临长达三年的监禁和经济处罚。
纽约东区联邦检察官在宣布梅琳达的认罪时说，希望这件事可以警告报税人员有义务诚实地履行社会职责。如果随意滥用知识，提交虚假支出欺骗国税局，其回报将会是陪了夫人又折兵。据称，由于梅琳达在2019年至2022年期间的虚假税单，美国国税局遭遇了约$110万的税收损失。她大量虚报客户的房屋节约能源有关开支，大大减少客户的纳税义务。
最终，梅琳达将于6月27在布鲁克林联邦法院被判刑。她的律师维尔·纽曼(Will Newman)说，梅琳达认识到提交虚假陈述是一件很严重的事情，并愿意承担全部责任。
随即在7月中旬，纽约东区联邦法院对梅琳达发出了永久禁令。梅琳达·雅各布(Melinda Jacob)以个人身份并代表其公司Melinda Jacob Tax Service LLC同意该禁令。这等同于永久禁止她和她的公司为客户报税。法令还命令梅琳达要将禁令通知发送给她在2019年1月1日之后报过税的每个客户，达到警醒的作用。
In early February 2024, federal prosecutors announced that Melinda Jacob, former owner of a tax preparation company in the East Flatbush area of Brooklyn, aged 48, pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming energy-saving expenses over a period of three years, resulting in approximately $1.1 million in losses to the IRS.
On February 5, 2024, after a hearing before Magistrate Judge James Cho in Brooklyn Federal Court, Melinda faces up to three years in prison and financial penalties.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York stated that this case serves as a warning to tax professionals about the obligation to honestly fulfill their social responsibilities. Abusing professional knowledge by submitting false expense claims to deceive the IRS will lead to serious legal consequences. From 2019 to 2022, Melinda reportedly exaggerated clients’ home energy-saving expenses, significantly reducing their tax liabilities, causing an estimated $1.1 million loss to the IRS.
Melinda is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27, 2024, at Brooklyn Federal Court. Her attorney, Will Newman, said she fully acknowledges the seriousness of submitting false statements and is willing to accept full responsibility.
In mid-July 2024, the Eastern District Federal Court issued a permanent injunction against Melinda. Both Melinda Jacob personally and her company, Melinda Jacob Tax Service LLC, agreed to the injunction, permanently prohibiting her and her company from providing tax preparation services to clients. The order also requires her to notify all clients served since January 1, 2019, of the injunction to serve as a warning.