Richland County woman charged with assisting in preparation of false tax return

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A Richland County woman has been arrested and charged with assisting in the preparation of a false state sales tax return.

Bridgette Frederick, 39, of Blythewood, filed a sales tax return for her husband's funeral home business in June 2019, reporting zero sales for the first quarter of 2019, according to the arrest warrant. In her role managing the funeral home's website, which announced deaths and funeral arrangements, she was aware the sales tax return reporting no retail sales was not accurate, according to a news release from the S.C. Department of Revenue.

For the period in question, the funeral home had retail sales of $26,948. By filing the false return, she assisted her husband in evading an assessment of $2,156 in sales tax, according to the warrant.

If convicted, Frederick faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a fine of $500. She is being held in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

If you suspect or know of anyone or a business that has committed a state tax crime, such as tax evasion or tax fraud, contact SCDOR Criminal Investigation and submit a tax violation complaint form to criminalinvestigation@dor.sc.gov or mail it to S.C. Department of Revenue, Attn: Fraud Advisor, 2070 Northbrook Blvd, Suite B7, North Charleston, S.C., 29406.