Julius Lee Boston, 37, of the Twin Cities, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to filing nearly 100 fraudulent tax returns in a brazen scheme to steal more than $135,000 from the IRS. Boston’s scam spanned from July 2011 to at least August 6, 2012, during which he weaponized the personal information of unsuspecting individuals to fabricate income and inflate refunds.
Court records reveal Boston convinced multiple people to hand over their Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and other sensitive data, which he used to file false returns in their names. The returns falsely reported W-2 wage income and fabricated withholding amounts, creating the illusion of overpaid taxes and triggering refund payouts. In total, Boston sought approximately $135,000 in fraudulent refunds.
The IRS detected the fraud too late to stop more than $64,139 from being paid out. Those funds were mailed to addresses under Boston’s control, including his home. He later split portions of the stolen refunds with the very individuals who had provided their identities, turning victims into accomplices in a scheme built on betrayal and greed.
Boston pleaded guilty on August 31, 2016, before U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, admitting to two counts of making false claims for tax refunds. In addition to his 41-month prison term, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay full restitution of $64,139.
“At the IRS, protecting taxpayer dollars is a serious matter. Detecting and catching fraudulent tax refund claims is an integral part of our mission,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Shea Jones of the St. Paul Field Office. “The 41-month sentencing for Julius Boston serves as a strong warning to those who are considering filing false tax returns to obtain fraudulent refunds this filing season.”
The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and the United States Postal Inspection Service, highlighting the cross-agency effort to track financial fraud that exploits the mail system. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle E. Jones prosecuted the case, ensuring Boston faced consequences for turning the tax code into his personal piggy bank.
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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