A Milwaukee woman has pleaded guilty to felony tax charges, mail fraud, and food stamp fraud in a shocking case of identity theft and deception.
Tiffiny Harden, 30, of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, admitted to filing false tax returns for over 20 taxpayers and fraudulently obtaining over $120,000 in tax refunds.
Court documents revealed that Harden sought tax refunds by claiming false incomes, education credits, and dependents for the taxpayers. Many of the victims reported that they did not know Harden and had never provided her with their personal information.
Some of the taxpayers even stated that Harden had offered to help them fill out their tax returns, but had never provided her with the necessary information. At least two taxpayers did not know that they were claimed as dependents.
Harden used the United States mail to receive and send false information to the IRS. Furthermore, she received food stamps during the period she was receiving the tax refunds, claiming to be homeless and failing to disclose the fact that she had received over $100,000 from the fraudulent tax return scheme.
Based on her guilty plea, Harden faces up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $510,000. She has also agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the sum of $120,125.00 and $400 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Harden’s sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2014. The case was jointly investigated by the IRS (Criminal Investigative Division), the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Related Federal Cases
- Tomeki L. Tyson, Tax Return Fraud, Wisconsin 2017 · Illinois
- Dimas Chavez-Pina, Tax Fraud Scheme, Wisconsin 2018 · Wisconsin
- David O Braeger, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, Mail Fraud, Unlawful Monetary Transactions, Wisconsin 2016 · Wisconsin
- Herbert C Watts, Tax Evasion, Illinois 2023 · Illinois
- Paul Bouraxis, Tax Conspiracy, Wisconsin 2023 · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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