Vegas Woman Roxanne Pitts Gets Time for $450K Tax Scam

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Roxanne Pitts, 51, of Las Vegas is headed to federal prison after admitting to a brazen scheme to defraud the U.S. government. Pitts was sentenced Wednesday to eight months imprisonment, followed by eight months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release for filing 83 false tax returns, a scam totaling approximately $450,000.

The scheme, uncovered by IRS Criminal Investigation, involved the exploitation of deceased individuals. Pitts allegedly trawled genealogy websites to obtain the identities of the dead, then fabricated wage and withholding information on the fraudulent returns. She didn’t stop there – directing the ill-gotten refunds to prepaid debit cards registered under the names of her deceased marks, and even having checks mailed to various addresses across Las Vegas.

“The defendant defrauded the U.S. Government and taxpayers each time she filed a false income tax return,” stated U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden of the District of Nevada. “This sentencing shows that such greed based criminal behavior does come with a cost. We will continue to pursue individuals who commit tax fraud in Nevada.” Bogden’s office has made targeting tax fraud a priority, particularly in a state rife with transient populations and opportunities for exploitation.

Pitts pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims on Oct. 16, 2016, admitting to the scheme that ran from June 2011 to February 2013. She didn’t work alone, paying accomplices to intercept and cash the U.S. Treasury checks, effectively laundering the stolen funds. Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan of the IRS emphasized that the sentence “reflect[s] the continued efforts of IRS Criminal Investigation to prosecute those stealing from the government‎.”

The investigation revealed a calculated effort to exploit a vulnerability in the tax system. While the amount stolen – $450,000 – may seem small compared to some federal crimes, the sheer number of fraudulent returns filed (83) points to a systematic and persistent operation. The use of deceased identities adds a particularly disturbing element, preying on the vulnerability of those no longer able to defend themselves.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson prosecuted the case, building it on evidence gathered by IRS investigators. Pitts’ sentencing serves as a warning: attempting to game the system will ultimately lead to a reckoning. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on other instances of financial crimes impacting the residents of Nevada and beyond.