A former corrections officer has been sentenced for his role in a brazen tax refund scheme that netted him over $386,000.
Silvester L. Bowens, 49, of Jacksonville, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and for receiving stolen property of the United States, namely tax refunds in excess of $1,000.
A United States Senior District Judge, Henry Lee Adams, Jr., also ordered Bowens to serve a 2-year term of supervised release and to pay the Internal Revenue Service $41,989.17 in restitution.
Bowens pleaded guilty on July 1, 2014, and was one of six individuals indicted in April 2014 for their roles in the scheme.
According to court documents, between January 2009 and December 2011, while working with inmates inside a Florida prison as a Wellness Director, Bowens participated in a tax refund scheme in which he assisted inmates in removing fraudulently filed tax returns from inside the prison.
Bowens opened bank accounts in his name to receive the refunds from the fraudulent returns. As a result of the scheme, more than 40 fraudulent tax returns were filed, directing $386,471 into accounts held by Bowens.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Florida Department of Corrections. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase is handling the prosecution of this case.
The sentencing hearings for the remaining defendants, Laura Wright and Chad R. Heins, are scheduled for August 11, 2015.
Related Federal Cases
- Miami Tax Preparers and Client Get 90 Months for $5.4M Fraudulent Refund Scheme · Florida
- Borgella Guilty in $400K Tax Refund Fraud Scheme · Florida
- Tax Refund Scheme Nets Millions: Two Down in Miami · Florida
- Jacksonville Woman Pleads Guilty to ID Theft and Fraudulent Tax Returns Scheme · Florida
- Miami Dade Students, Target Employees Plead Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scheme · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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