PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2001 Tax Fraud Charges Brought Against Maryland Woman WASHINGTON, DC - A Greenbelt, Md., woman has been charged with multiple counts of tax fraud after an investigation by the DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR). Charlotte Marie Jones was charged Friday in DC Superior Court with claiming false deductions on her 1997, 1998 and 1999 DC individual income tax returns. If found guilty she could face five years in jail and more than $300,000 in fines, in addition to paying back taxes and penalties. The Jones case is the result of stepped up enforcement efforts by OTR's Criminal Investigation Division, Questionable Refund Detection Team. "We are aggressively pursuing all cases of tax evasion, fraud or misrepresentation, no matter what the amount of tax owed," said Herbert J. Huff, Deputy Chief Financial Officer. He noted that OTR has augmented its audit and compliance force to handle increased enforcement activity in individual income, business and real property tax collection. "We are obligated to protect District revenue and to ensure that everyone pays his or her fair share," Huff said. In all, Jones sought $2,598 in refunds over the three-year period.