TAMPA, FL – Elise Ellis, a Tampa mother, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 18 months behind bars and 6 months of home detention for her role in a brazen tax fraud conspiracy. U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore delivered the sentence today, also slapping Ellis with a joint and several money judgement of $221,000 – the full amount of the ill-gotten gains from the scheme. Ellis initially pleaded guilty on January 3, 2017, but the wheels of justice grind slowly, especially when family is involved.
Ellis wasn’t working alone. Her sons, Keith Godbolt and Paul Johnson, already received their sentences: four years and three years and six months, respectively. The trio systematically exploited the US tax system, filing fraudulent returns using stolen identities and pocketing the refunds. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was a calculated, years-long operation.
Court documents reveal the conspiracy stretched from August 2011 to April 2013. Ellis, Godbolt, and Johnson engaged in wire fraud, theft of government property, and aggravated identity theft. They electronically filed bogus tax returns using the Social Security numbers of others, diverting the fraudulent refunds to bank accounts and debit cards under their control. The money was then funneled between them through checks, bank transfers, and cold, hard cash.
The scheme was remarkably sloppy, relying on easily detectable patterns. Many of the fraudulent returns claimed unusually high taxable interest or dividend income, often using the same figure across multiple filings. They also consistently listed false occupations for the taxpayers. Disturbingly, a significant number of the victims were already deceased when their fraudulent returns were submitted – a callous disregard for the dead and a clear indicator of the defendants’ predatory intent.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), who meticulously untangled the web of fraudulent activity. Assistant United States Attorney Kelley C. Howard-Allen prosecuted the case, ensuring the perpetrators faced justice. This case serves as a stark reminder that exploiting the tax system will not be tolerated, and those who attempt to defraud the government will be held accountable, no matter who they are or who they’re connected to.
The $221,000 judgement aims to recoup the stolen funds, but recovering the full amount remains to be seen. Ellis’s sentencing brings another chapter of this sordid family saga to a close, but the ripple effects of their fraud will likely be felt by the victims for years to come. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
Related Federal Cases
- Key West Tax Man Gets 18 Months for Fraud · Florida
- SC Doctor Admits Tax Fraud, Faces Prison · South Carolina
- Clearwater Woman Cops to $74K Tax Fraud · Florida
- Butler Admits to Tax Fraud & Identity Theft · Florida
- Caty Gets 8½ Years for Tax Fraud Scheme · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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