Big Island Woman Indicted for False Tax Returns

A Big Island woman pleaded not guilty today in federal court in Honolulu to six counts of filing false income tax returns, US Attorney Florence Nakakuni said.

Sherilyn K. Wahinekapu, 60, was accused of filing returns with the Internal Revenue Service that fraudulently claimed tax returns ranging from $40,941 to $1.6 million, Nakakuni said in a statement released today.

Wahinekapu was arrested by federal agents early this morning based on an indictment returned last Thursday by a federal grand jury.

The indictment alleges that Wahinekapu knew that the refunds were fraudulent because they were based on false information related to interest income and income tax withholdings.

The indictment covers returns filed by Wahinekapu in 2008 and 2009 for the tax years from 2006 to 2008.

Each claim of making a false claim against the US carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, Nakakuni said.

Wahinekapu has been given a June 13 trial date in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.