Destrehan tax preparers accused of $2.2 million fraud

The Justice Department is suing to keep two Destrehan women from preparing federal tax returns after they say the two claimed bogus refunds that could total as much as $2.2 million.

The lawsuit was filed against Cathy Vinnett and her daughter Lashanda Vinnett and their companies, including M&C Tax Service, D&C Tax Service, River Parish Tax Professionals and Remarkable Tax Services.

According to the suit, the government says the two prepared federal tax returns for customers that claimed fraudulent tax refunds based on fabricated telephone excise tax credits, earned income tax credits and first time homebuyer credits.

The suit alleges that the Vinnetts retained most of the resulting refunds for themselves without telling their customers.

According to the complaint, the bogus refund claims have cost the government as much as $2.2 million.