Tax preparer arrested on fraud charges

SPRING HILL – H & R Block employee Melanie Johnson was arrested Friday on two counts of fraud charges.

A sheriff’s office investigation found Johnson, 36, of Spring Hill, used the personal information of two clients to take out a loan against their tax returns.

According to the sheriff’s office, the advances of $900 and $982 were loaded on a debit card issued by H & R Block.

Johnson, of Oriole Avenue in Spring Hill, was arrested on state charges of criminal use of personal identification.

She was released on $4,000 bond Friday evening.

In a press release, the sheriff’s office said they plan to petition for federal charges. If convicted, Johnson could be punished by a minimum mandatory sentence of two years for each count.

Court records show Johnson was found guilty of DUI in 2010, and had her adjudication withheld on a driving with a suspended or revoked license in 2009 and 1997.