Tacoma Tax Cheat Ristick Gets 46 Months

TACOMA, WA – SEENEY RISTICK, 33, of Tacoma, Washington, is trading in bogus tax forms for prison stripes. RISTICK was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in June 2014 to orchestrating a massive tax refund fraud that bilked the U.S. Treasury out of over $1.5 million. The scheme involved filing 524 fraudulent federal income tax returns, claiming a total of $1,826,944 in refunds.

Acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes announced the sentencing, delivered by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle. Judge Settle didn’t mince words, stating the stolen funds were hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant for vital government services. RISTICK’s actions effectively robbed those services, and the court responded accordingly. The fraud spanned from 2008 to 2013, a five-year period of systematic deception.

According to court documents, RISTICK wasn’t working alone, nor was he shy about profiting from the crime. He presented forged documents and fabricated income journals to tax preparation firms across Western Washington, filing false returns not only in his own name but also using the identities of relatives and friends. He falsely claimed self-employment income and various tax credits, all designed to trigger hefty, illegitimate refunds.

The operation was slick. RISTICK often approached tax preparers armed with fraudulent powers of attorney, falsely claiming the authority to represent the named tax filer. In other instances, he’d accompany individuals directly, assisting them in filing the bogus returns. And the kicker? He charged these victims – the very people whose names were used to commit the fraud – between $500 and $1500 for his “services.” A brazen double-dip into stolen funds.

While RISTICK managed to claim $1,826,944 in fraudulent refunds, the U.S. Treasury actually paid out $1,584,398 before the scheme unraveled. To date, not a single dollar has been recovered. Special Agent in Charge Teri Alexander of IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) was blunt: “When someone like Ristick undertakes to submit false returns claiming undue refunds, they effectively steal from those paying their honest share.”

The case was a collaborative effort, investigated by IRS-CI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven Masada. The sentencing of SEENEY RISTICK serves as a stark reminder that defrauding the government isn’t a victimless crime, and the IRS-CI will relentlessly pursue those who attempt to undermine the tax system for personal gain. This isn’t just about money; it’s about trust, and RISTICK shattered that trust for a shot at a quick, illegal profit.