SEATTLE — Bouavanh Norasinh of Everett was indicted on 26 counts of preparing, for his clients, federal income tax returns known to be false, an indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Seattle says.

Norasinh is alleged to have inflated and fabricated expenses that were claimed.

The alleged violations took place from 1997 through 2000, and false deductions ranged from $16,478 to $35,824. According to the indictment, the total amount is more than $600,000.

Norasinh did not sign and date the tax returns as is required of a paid tax preparer. In some cases, he charged a percentage of the refund as a fee. In other cases, Norasinh had his clients make a contribution or gift to him, which he then considered non-reportable income.

"Taxpayers should be as careful in choosing their tax return preparer as they would be in choosing their doctor or lawyer," said Steven J. Pasholk, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation for Washington and Alaska.

Everett: Woman drives up, robs espresso stand

An espresso stand was robbed by a blond woman in her 20s Monday afternoon, officers said.

Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen reported the robbery took place at the High Flying Espresso in the 2200 block of 112th Street SW in Everett at around 1:30 p.m.

The woman drove up, demanded money and left with the contents of the till and tip jar. No one was injured.

The woman was last seen driving a gray or silver older passenger car westbound on 112th Street SW. Police said the woman is described as "skinny, no teeth and sickly looking."

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the tip line at 425-388-3845.

From Herald staff reports