Georgia Woman Charged with Tax Fraud Targeting Truck Drivers
On August 13, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Diane Marie Poe, 62, on 54 counts of tax fraud involving at least 26 clients, most of whom are independent truck drivers. Poe operated an accounting and tax preparation company called Genuine Financial Solutions and is accused of charging fees for tax services not provided, withholding payroll and trust taxes owed to the IRS, and engaging in multiple bank fraud and tax violations. The list of companies involved has been released, and the FBI and IRS are urging affected victims to contact and report.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced on August 13 that a federal grand jury has indicted Diane Marie Poe, 62, of Loganville, Georgia, on 54 counts involving a tax fraud scheme targeting at least 26 clients, most of whom were independent truck drivers.
According to the indictment, Poe operated an accounting and tax preparation business called Genuine Financial Solutions, offering bookkeeping, payroll processing, and tax filing services. Prosecutors allege that Poe collected fees for tax and filing services she never performed and withheld estimated payroll taxes and trust fund taxes that should have been remitted to the IRS without turning them over. Additionally, she is accused of failing to properly file her personal and corporate income taxes, as well as failing to pay payroll taxes for her own employees.
The trucking companies involved in this case (seecase documents) include:
- Anderson Transport
- JJC Transport
- Cheval-Vapeur Transportation
- Holifield Express
- Marquez Transport
- Strong Enterprise
- RGA7 Trucking
- RCD Trucking
- Esparza & Son
- Chaos International
- A&R Express
- T.R. (a truck driver for Schneider)
- Two Bears Trucking
- Dixie Line
- Southern Boom and Truck Repair
- We Run It
- Salty Dog Logistics
- C Bear Transport
- 4B Trucking
- Stealth Transportation Express
- Raaji Enterprises
- Simay Family Enterprises
- R&S Express
- Kerried Away Transportation
- Think Fenix
The FBI and IRS are asking anyone who hired Poe or used Genuine Financial Services to call the FBI Atlanta office at 770-216-3000. Investigators noted that Poe's business gained many clients in the trucking industry through word of mouth.
The specific charges Poe faces include: 32 counts of bank fraud, 14 counts of failing to account for and pay over withheld taxes and FICA taxes, 4 counts of failing to file corporate tax returns, 2 counts of making and subscribing false returns, and 2 counts of theft of federal program funds.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation and not a conviction, and Poe is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. However, if convicted, she faces imprisonment and forfeiture of any property or proceeds derived directly or indirectly from the bank fraud and theft of federal program funds. Each count of bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, theft of federal program funds up to 10 years, failure to pay taxes up to 5 years, false returns up to 3 years, and failure to file corporate returns up to 1 year.