Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, Jr. announces that 48-year-old Shonnel Harris of Cheektowaga has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to eight months in prison and ordered to repay $19,011 in restitution for her involvement in a tax scam. 

In March, the defendant pleaded guilty to Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree. 

Harris admitted she acted as an unlicensed tax preparer, assisting others in the preparation of false NYS personal income tax returns, resulting in a loss of about $19,000 to New York State. 

DA Flynn commends the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for its assistance in the investigation. 

Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau prosecuted the case.