Columbus pair get prison time for trying to defraud IRS of over $200,000

A Columbus man and woman who tried to defraud the IRS while working as tax preparers will spend years in federal prison after their sentencings Monday.

Keven Walker, 33, and Tiffany Gist, 46, also known as Tiffany Walker, tried to steal $216,684 in refunds while operating Walker Tax Financial Group in Columbus, according to U.S. Attorney Charles Peeler.

In 2013, they filed 126 fraudulent returns for people who’d done no business with the Walkers, Peeler said in a news release.

Walker pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft on Aug. 13, 2019. Gist pleaded to the same charges the following July 23.

U.S. District Judge Clay Land sentenced Walker to 4½ years in prison. He sentenced Gist to three years and nine months. He also ordered them to pay $33,446 in restitution to the IRS.

Tim Chitwood

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

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Tim Chitwood is from Seale, Alabama, and started as a police beat reporter with the Ledger-Enquirer in 1982. He since has covered Columbus’ serial killings and other homicides, following some from the scene of the crime to trial verdicts and ensuing appeals. He also has been a Ledger-Enquirer humor columnist since 1987. He’s a graduate of Auburn University, and started out working for the weekly Phenix Citizen in Phenix City, Ala.