RPV Woman Pleads Guilty to $1 Million Tax Fraud

Marketta Marie Barnett, 51, of Rancho Palos Verdes, pleaded guilty Thursday to tax fraud, the IRS said.

Barnett owned and operated a boarding care facility for mentally disabled adults. She entered the plea in Los Angeles federal court in response to one count of filing a false federal income tax return for 2003, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Several bank accounts were held by Barnett, including accounts in the name of her boarding care business, Quincy Manor Charity Crest, according to her plea agreement.

Barnett acknowledged failing to report about $1 million in income from the business on the returns she and her husband filed for the years 2003 through 2005, resulting in a tax loss of about $380,126, the IRS said.

Barnett faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 at sentencing Sept. 19, the IRS said.

City News Service contributed to this report.