Police: Woman filed fake tax returns

SANTA FE (KRQE) – A former New Mexico Tax and Revenue Department employee got off light the first time, but a judge could throw the book at Gayle McIntyre for allegedly filing fake income tax returns again.

If McIntyre is convicted on the new charges, she could spend the rest of her life in prison.

McIntyre pleaded not guilty to 23 charges including tax fraud, forgery and identity theft at Santa Fe District Court Friday.

The state’s taxation and revenue department said McIntyre filed seven fake income tax returns totaling nearly $7,400 last summer and deposited a refund check for more than $1,700 into her account.

In 2005, McIntyre pleaded guilty to 36 counts of tax fraud and was given five years probation.

Her past could count against her in a big way.

“One year could be added to each of those counts because you're a habitual [offender],” Santa Fe District Court Judge Michael Vigil told McIntyre. “You’re looking at almost 100 years, if everything got stacked.”

McIntyre is being held on a no-bond hold for violating her probation.

She is also in the hole financially. In 2005 as part of her sentence, McIntyre was ordered to pay the state nearly $127,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors said in court she’s only paid back about $12,000 so far.

McIntyre’s trial on the new tax fraud charges is set for August 12.