Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, Jr. announces that 48-year-old Shonnel Harris of Cheektowaga has pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case 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. 

Harris faces 1 1/3-4 years in jail when she is sentenced by Judge Case on June 12, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. 

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.