|
|
| Inmate Sentenced For Tax Fraud Scheme |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/27/2006 |
|
A Florida inmate has been sentenced for his involvement in a tax fraud scheme that he ran behind bars that resulted in fraudulent federal income tax refund claims in excess of $100,000. Paul Turturro, a prisoner at Moorehaven Correctional Facility in the Middle District of Florida, has been sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $68,215.75. On Sept. 1, 2005, Turturro and his wife Grace were indicted for conspiracy to make and present fraudulent claims against the United States during the period from February 2002 to April 2003. While in prison, Paul Turturro recruited fellow prisoners to file false tax returns claiming refunds. The necessary information to file these returns, such as names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, was sent by Paul Turturro to Grace Turturro, who lived in New Jersey. Prosecutors said Grace Turturro would prepare false Forms W-2 and other documents and would then file the returns at numerous IRS Service Centers around the country. All of the returns listed the Turturro address in New Jersey. When the refund checks came back to Grace Turturro, she kept $1,000 as a fee, and then sent the balance of the money to designated friends or relatives of the inmates. Grace Turturro sent payments to various locations including Boca Raton, Ft. Pierce, and Miami, Florida. During the course of the conspiracy, the defendants caused approximately 43 fraudulent income tax returns to be submitted to the IRS, for a tax fraud of $138,242.42. Both Paul and Grace Turturro pled guilty to conspiring to defraud the IRS in respect to claims. On Feb. 13, Grace Turturro was sentenced to three months of probation and was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS of $68,215.75. 3-20-06 |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think