UTICA — A former tax preparer from Utica has been charged in Federal Court with lying on her own taxes and helping clients file false income tax returns, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Dianna Nolan, 46, currently of Florida, was indicted this week on two counts of filing false income tax returns and 15 counts of aiding and assisting in filing false income tax returns, authorities said.

She was virtually arraigned in U.S. District Court in Syracuse and is scheduled to reappear. 

An indictment is a formal charge made against a person by a grand jury. It does not establish guilt or remove the presumption of innocence. 

Authorities said Nolan, formerly of Utica, worked as a professional tax return preparer in Oneida County between at least 2014 and 2018.

During that time, authorities said Nolan filed numerous false tax returns for several clients claiming losses on rental properties.

Nolan also lied on her own tax returns in 2017 and 2018, authorities said, by failing to report all of the income she received through her business. 

If convicted, Nolan faces a maximum of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.