Tax fraud crack down by IRS
Seven people have been arrested in tax fraud schemes involving over $1 million in bogus refunds. Roshelle Davis, Rosalyn Davis, and Connie Willis, Corleen Ladawn Thompson, Desheray Gulley, and Lyle Mitchell McGraw were arrested in Casa Grande. Shaneika Earline Sims was arrested in Tucson.
The schemes included using names of prisoners on fraudulent tax returns.
“We want the public to know that these types of schemes are criminal and those involved will be prosecuted and/or end up in Federal prison,” said Brian Watson, Special Agent with the Internal Revenue Service.
The fraud schemes began on or about March 13, 2010 and continued until almost January 28, 2012.
To accomplish the object of the conspiracy, the defendant Roshelle Davis prepared and filed false federal individual income taxes for the year 2009 with names, social security numbers and dates of birth provided to her by defendant Rosalyn Davis. Defendant Rosalyn Davis would not provide any other information regarding the individual whose identity was used, knowing that defendant Roshelle Davis would fabricate information to generate the false federal income tax returns. Some of the fabricated information on the income tax returns included but was not limited to, the taxpayers home address, name of the employer, income amount and federal tax withholdings.
False Federal tax returns were electronically filed using IP addresses registered for use by Cricket Communications as well as cell phone service registered to her home address. Tax Returns were filed electronically using the IP address and a wireless air card to prepare and file at least 97 false tax returns. Additional false returns were electronically prepared and submitted using IP addresses registered for use at two businesses owned and operated by defendant Connie Willis.
During the period of the tax fraud conspiracy, the defendants filed at least 150 false federal individual tax returns, directing the refund payments totaling at least $675,000.00 to be electronically deposited into bank accounts that they controlled.
Similarly in another indictment, defendants Corleen Ladawn Thompson, Desheray Gully. Lyle Mitchell McGraw and Shanieka Earline Sims prepared and filed false federal individual income taxes for the years 2009 thru 2011 with false W-2 information including names, social security numbers and dates of birth provided by defendant Corleen Ladawn Thompson and family members. Defendant Corleen Ladawn Thompson would not provide any other information regarding the individual whose identity was used, knowing that defendants Desheray Gully and Shanieka Earline Sims would fabricate information to generate the false federal income tax returns. Some of the fabricated information on the income tax returns included but was not limited to, the taxpayer’s home address, name of the employer, income amount and federal tax withholdings.
The false returns were electronically prepared and submitted using an IP address registered for use at the home of defendant Corleen Ladawn Thompson.
As part of the conspiracy, defendants Corleen Ladawn Thompson, Desheray Gully. Lyle Mitchell McGraw and Shanieka Earline Sims would cause the tax refunds to be electronically deposited into bank accounts they controlled. Upon withdrawal of the funds they would divide the ill-gotten proceeds often sharing with family members or others whose identity was used in the scheme.
During the period of this tax fraud conspiracy, the defendants filed approximately 150 false federal individual tax returns, and falsely claimed $545,000.00 in fraudulent refund payments.
Both cases have trial dates of September 18, 2012.