SC Department of Revenue investigators arrested a woman this morning on 14 counts of assisting in the preparation of a false return.

Carlotta M. Watson is accused of entering false figures and false itemized deductions during the preparation of income tax returns for tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Watson, owner and tax preparer at Jonathan & Watson Tax Service in Columbia, wrongfully generated tax returns for her clients without their approval or knowledge. By purposely inflating deductions on each of the returns that she prepared, Watson caused taxpayers to receive an incorrect refund amount from the state of South Carolina.

If convicted of all of the 14 charges, Watson, 33, could face penalties of up to 70 years in prison and/or $7,000 in fines.