By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
Former independent tax preparer Amy Madsen is behind bars on new charges, according to Escambia County Sheriff's Investigator Bill Richardson.
Bond on the theft charges was set at $20,000 with a $10,000 bond set on the forgery charge, Richardson said.
Madsen has also had an additional warrant issued against her, said Tim Cook, supervisor of the State Probation and Parole office in Escambia County.
Cook said most cases of violation probation minimize the chances of having bond available to repeat offenders.
Madsen was originally arrested in February 2007 on a grand jury indictment on eight counts of preparing false tax returns, law enforcement officials said at the time of the arrest.
Madsen, of 2050 Pea Ridge Road in Brewton, was originally held on $250,000 bond, which was reduced to $25,000 under a conditional agreement
The February arrest came when charges relating to accusations Madsen underreported her own income and incorrectly prepared returns for some customers, Billy said. The state Department of Revenue led the investigation, with Special Agent Robert McVey Jr. in charge.
According to the indictment, five of the counts allege Madsen claimed deductions for customers who were not entitled to them, in amounts as high as $21,000.
The indictment states Madsen knew the customers were not entitled to those deductions.
Customers were not aware of the fraud, Billy said, until they were contacted by the Department of Revenue.
Madsen was being held at the Escambia County Detention Center until a hearing on the violation of probation can be held.