Loganville Tax Preparer Accused of Defrauding 26 Clients, Mostly Self-Employed Truck Drivers

MACON, Ga. – A Loganville tax preparer has been indicted on 54 federal charges accusing her of defrauding at least 26 clients, most of them self-employed truck drivers, by collecting money for tax services and payments that prosecutors say were never properly handled.

Diane Marie Poe, 62, was indicted Aug. 12 on 32 counts of bank fraud, 14 counts of failure to account for and pay over withholding and FICA taxes, four counts of failure to file a corporate tax return, two counts of making and subscribing a false return and two counts of federal program theft.

According to the indictment, Poe owns Genuine Financial Services Inc., an accounting and tax preparation business in Walton County. The company offered bookkeeping, payroll, payroll tax and tax preparation services, with much of its clientele coming from the trucking industry.

Federal prosecutors allege Poe accepted money from clients for tax preparation and filing services she did not provide. She is also accused of collecting estimated payroll or trust fund taxes from clients but failing to send the money to the IRS.

Investigators say Poe’s clients included at least 26 people and that many customers in the trucking industry found her business through word-of-mouth referrals.

The indictment also accuses Poe of failing to properly file her own personal and business taxes and failing to pay payroll taxes owed for employees of Genuine Financial Services.

Poe faces significant prison time if convicted. Bank fraud carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison per count, while the federal program theft charges each carry a maximum of 10 years. The other tax-related charges carry maximum sentences ranging from one to five years per count.

The FBI and IRS are investigating with assistance from the Loganville Police Department, Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Walton County District Attorney’s Office.

Federal authorities are also searching for potential additional victims. Anyone who used Genuine Financial Services or employed Poe for tax services and believes they may have been defrauded is asked to contact the FBI’s Atlanta office at 770-216-3000.