George D. Telford Jr., Tax and Fraud Offenses, Connecticut 2023

Tolland Man Charged with Tax and Fraud Offenses

A federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an eight-count indictment charging George D. Telford Jr., 36, of Tolland, with tax and fraud offenses.

As alleged in the indictment, Telford created bogus trust entities in an effort to obtain fraudulent refunds from the IRS for purported tax overpayments to the trusts. In 2019 and 2020, Telford filed five false federal tax returns claiming approximately $6.2 million in refunds purportedly owed by the IRS. The IRS paid Telford one refund of $564,758 for a tax return he filed for the 2018 tax year on behalf of the 'Telford Asset Family Trust.'

The indictment further alleges that in 2022 and 2023, Telford also engaged in a scheme to defraud the Connecticut Department of Labor ('CT DOL') of unemployment insurance benefits purportedly to compensate displaced workers of an entity called 'High Class Grads LLC,' which he purported to own. Telford submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits, one in his name and two for other third parties, claiming that the individuals had earned wages from High Class Grads and had been laid off from the company. In fact, High Class Grads did not employ these individuals and had not paid them any wages. As a result of these claims, CT DOL paid out $48,792 in fraudulent benefits.

The indictment charges Telford with five counts of making and subscribing a false tax return, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on each count, and with three counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.

U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Telford is currently incarcerated in state custody for unrelated alleged criminal conduct.

This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Susan Wines.

Defendant Name: George D. Telford Jr.

Criminal Charges: Five counts of making and subscribing a false tax return and three counts of wire fraud.

City and State: Tolland, Connecticut.

Exact Date: Not specified.

Sentence or Outcome: Currently incarcerated in state custody for unrelated alleged criminal conduct.

Dollar Amounts: Approximately $6.2 million in refunds, one refund of $564,758, and $48,792 in fraudulent benefits.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/tolland-man-charged-tax-and-fraud-offenses