Ex-tax preparer sentenced for stealing

A Bigfork woman who stole money from a customer while working as a tax preparer received a five-year sentence on Thursday.

Leilani Louise Albertson, 29, will spend her sentence with the Montana Department of Corrections. Flathead District Court Judge Robert B. Allison recommended that she be placed in treatment programs.

Albertson worked as a seasonal tax preparer for Liberty Tax in Kalispell.

The theft was spotted when a customer told police that $4,777 was transferred to an account owned by Albertson. The customer recognized the name because she had prepared his taxes weeks before.

The theft took place in March and Albertson was charged in early April. She was fired from Liberty Tax after the arrest.

Albertson had a history of finance-related crimes. At the time of the theft, she was on probation for a conviction of felony issuing a bad check. Another case for deceptive practices was moving through the court process.

In the latter case, she charged more than $50,000 on stolen credit cards that were found in a lost wallet.

Albertson was sentenced in all three cases on Thursday. Allison followed the recommendation of an April 22 plea agreement.

Liberty Tax didn’t run a background check on Albertson prior to hiring her. The owner said that Albertson didn’t disclose her criminal history on her job application.

Before the judgment was announced, Albertson gave a brief statement in court.

“I wish to apologize to by victims,” she said, fighting back tears. “I would greatly like the opportunity to go to treatment.”

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.