Veronica Dale, Tax Refund Fraud, Alabama 2011

Grimy Times has learned that two leaders of a multi-million dollar tax refund fraud ring have been sentenced to federal prison.

Veronica Dale, 334 months, and Alchico Grant, 310 months, were sentenced to prison for their roles in the scheme that defrauded the United States of millions of dollars.

The indictment, which was originally filed in December 2010, alleged that Dale and Grant, along with three others, were involved in a tax refund fraud scheme that used stolen identities of Medicaid recipients.

Dale, of Montgomery, Ala., was sentenced to 334 months and Alchico Grant of Lowndes County, Ala., was sentenced to 310 months in prison.

In addition to their prison sentences, Dale and Grant were both ordered to pay over $2.8 million in restitution to the IRS.

The scheme, which began in 2009 and continued through 2010, involved filing false tax returns using stolen identities and directing the refunds to different bank accounts that Dale and other co-conspirators controlled.

Dale admitted to filing over 500 fraudulent returns that sought at least $3,741,908 in tax refunds.

Grant admitted to opening bank accounts to receive some of the refunds and recruiting others to do the same.

The second indictment charged a conspiracy that involved Dale, Grant, Melinda Clayton, and Stephanie Adams.

Dale, Grant, Clayton and Adams all pleaded guilty to their roles in the second scheme.

The Justice Department remains committed to protecting Americans from thieves who would steal their identities and use them to commit refund fraud.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/leaders-multi-million-dollar-fraud-ring-used-stolen-information-medicaid-recipients-each