RALEIGH – A Castle Hayne woman pleaded guilty Monday in Wake County Superior Court to felony tax charges filed by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Tijuana L. Parker, 44, of 27 Stoney Road, Castle Hayne, pleaded guilty on June 21, 2004 to two counts of willfully attempting to evade or defeat the North Carolina individual income tax.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Narley L. Cashwell sentenced Parker to a six-month minimum, eight-month maximum prison term. The sentence was suspended and Parker was placed on supervised probation for 24 months. She was ordered to pay a $500 criminal fine and perform 24 hours of community service. Parker must also file her amended tax returns within 90 days and pay any taxes that are owed.

The state’s evidence showed that Parker claimed fraudulent business losses and itemized deductions on her 2002 and 2003 tax returns. A Department of Revenue investigation determined that Parker did not own the business and did not incur the losses reported. The fraudulent amounts reduced her taxable income and allowed her to receive larger tax refunds than she was legally entitled to receive.

The charges against Parker resulted from an investigation by the Department of Revenue’s Wilmington Examinations Office and Criminal Investigations Division.

Last modified on: 10/31/07 03:43:52 PM .