A Kansas City woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in two separate fraudulent schemes involving false statements to a financial institution and preparing fraudulent tax returns.
Bianca Cobbins, 42, admitted to seven counts, including two counts of making a false statement to a financial institution and five counts of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return.
According to court documents, Cobbins obtained personal information from a victim in December 2019. She used this information to create a fraudulent driver’s license with the victim’s details but featuring the photograph of another individual, Quanisha Capelton. Cobbins and Capelton then used the fake identification to open a checking account at a local bank.
Cobbins also produced two fake paystubs that claimed the victim worked for a healthcare company in Kansas City and had paychecks deposited into the new account. These documents were used by Cobbins and Capelton to apply for a consumer loan at the same bank.
As part of her plea agreement, Cobbins acknowledged that her actions resulted in an intended loss of at least $36,128.32. Quanisha Capelton was previously charged, convicted, and sentenced for her involvement in using the victim’s personal information.
Cobbins also admitted to preparing false federal tax returns for clients from 2018 through 2023. In many cases, she attached fraudulent Schedule C forms claiming false business profits or losses so that clients would receive larger Earned Income Credit refunds.
Cobbins stated as part of her plea agreement that she prepared at least 55 false federal tax returns, causing an actual loss of at least $312,656.00.
“Under federal statutes, Cobbins is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole for each count of making a false statement to a financial institution and is subject to a sentence of up to 3 years in federal prison without parole for each count of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of Cobbins will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas P. Heberle following investigations conducted by the United States Secret Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and Lee’s Summit Police Department.
