Five Indicted in $280,000 Tax Scam

Tyrone Devon Thompson, Aritha Currie, Julius Thompson, Tronda Thompson and Shonda Sneed were thrown into the spotlight yesterday after being charged with conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false claims against the government.

According to an indictment unsealed following their arrests, the five defendants allegedly conspired together to file false federal income tax returns that sought fraudulent refunds. The indictment claims the defendants directed the IRS to directly deposit the false refunds into the bank accounts of the defendants, which received at least $280,000 in false tax refunds.

The indictment, which was returned on May 11, 2012, charges all five with a 22-count indictment. The charges include conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false claims against the United States. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, all the defendants face a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and three years for each false claim count. They are also subject to fines and mandatory restitution if convicted.

Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally commended the efforts of Special Agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Charles Edgar and Justin Gelfand, who are prosecuting the case.

Authorities have not released any further information regarding the case, and it remains unclear what prompted the investigation into the alleged tax scam. The indictment serves as a reminder to taxpayers that filing false tax returns can have serious consequences.

As the case moves forward, it will be up to the court to determine the guilt or innocence of the five defendants. The public will be watching closely as this case unfolds.