Former Tampa Police Sergeant Sentenced to Prison for Receiving Stolen Tax Refunds
Tampa, Florida – In a shocking turn of events, LaJoyce Caldwell Houston, a former sergeant at the Tampa Police Department, has been sentenced to prison for receiving stolen government property.
According to court documents, Houston, 51, of Riverview, received goods, services, money orders, and cash that were obtained with debit cards tied to accounts that had been loaded with fraudulently obtained tax refunds. The fraudulent refunds deposited in these accounts were the result of fraudulent federal income tax returns that had been filed by co-conspirator Rita Girven.
The Court found that Houston received more than $150,000 in goods, services, and cash from these accounts, with the total fraudulently obtained tax refunds totaling $284,490.41.
Houston pleaded guilty on August 23, 2017, and was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison. The Court also ordered her to pay $61,660.52 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mandy Riedel and Megan Kistler.
Eric Houston, LaJoyce’s husband, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government property and was sentenced to six months in federal prison. In a related case, Rita Girven pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of law enforcement accountability and the need for transparency in government institutions.
LaJoyce Caldwell Houston, Defendant/Respondent.
Exact Criminal Charges: Receipt of Stolen Government Property.
City and State: Tampa, Florida.
Exact Date: Not specified in the source.
Sentence or Outcome: Two years and nine months in federal prison, with restitution of $61,660.52.
Dollar Amounts: $61,660.52 in restitution, $284,490.41 in fraudulently obtained tax refunds, and more than $150,000 in goods, services, and cash received by Houston.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News