A Darlington County tax preparer was arrested by South Carolina Department of Revenue investigators yesterday afternoon on charges of assisting in the preparation of false state income tax returns.

Dorothy Harriot, 62, is charged with five counts of assisting in the preparation of false state income tax returns. Harriot is accused of in 2008 preparing or presenting individual income tax returns with altered or fictitious W-2’s. This resulted in taxpayers receiving refunds in which they were not entitled.

She is facing up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $2,500 if convicted of all the charges.

Darlington County Sheriff Department deputies assisted in Harriot’s arrest.