Tampa, FL – In a shocking turn of events, LaJoyce Caldwell Houston, a former Tampa Police Sergeant, has pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government property, a federal crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
According to the plea agreement, in 2011 and 2012, while working at the Tampa Police Department, LaJoyce Houston 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 into these accounts totaled $284,490.41 and were the result of fraudulent federal income tax returns that had been filed by Rita Girven.
For example, in March 2011, Girven paid off LaJoyce Houston’s Target Visa credit card, with Houston’s knowledge, by making two in-store payments totaling $3,863.08. These in-store payments were made using a debit card loaded with nine fraudulently obtained tax refunds, eight issued in the name of identity theft victims, and one issued to Girven.
LaJoyce Houston’s co-defendant and husband, Eric Houston, pleaded guilty on March 31, 2017, to receiving stolen government property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 25, 2017. In a related case (case no. 8:15-cr-58-T-17EAJ), Rita Girven pleaded guilty on March 16, 2015, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. On November 20, 2015, she was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
The investigation into LaJoyce Houston’s crimes was carried out by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mandy Riedel and Megan Kistler.
LaJoyce Houston, 51, of Riverview, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
This brazen case highlights the corruption that can seep into even the highest levels of law enforcement. LaJoyce Houston’s crimes were committed while she was serving as a police officer, betraying the public’s trust and undermining the very institution she was sworn to protect.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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