|
|
| Congressmen demand investigation of inmate tax scam |
| By WESH.com |
| Published: 03/07/2005 |
|
It's tax time. Most of us have to pay thousands of dollars to the government, but a WESH NewsChannel 2 investigation has uncovered a scam that sends hundreds of thousands -- if not millions -- of tax-refund dollars to people who don't work at all. The investigation has now prompted calls for congressional hearings in Washington. Inmates are still committing crimes while doing time. They are stealing your tax dollars while serving long sentences for robbery, kidnapping, even murder. Now, 2 Investigates has learned that this scam reaches beyond prison walls. "Some of the inmate's families that receive the direct deposits are receiving ten grand a month," said "Juanita," who says she has been paid to be an outside middleman in this scam. She helped inmates on the inside file false 1040-EZ tax forms for work they never did. The inmates then got tax refunds for taxes they never paid. "Each inmate has probably two to three people that open two to three accounts per person," she said. "And there's money going in?" asked NewsChannel 2's Stephen Stock. "Into all of the accounts year round," Juanita said. Juanita asked us to protect her identity because she fears someone will harm her and her family. "Did you get a cut?" Stock asked. "Half. Half of whatever was deposited into my bank account. I was allowed to keep half," she said. Apparently the IRS has done little to stop this. "The IRS knows about this? Has for at least ... two years?" Stock said. "Two years," she said. She said she they know because she told them. The IRS didn't stop a check sent to Tampa resident Miriam Rivera. Two months ago, our investigation discovered that Rivera's address was used by a prison inmate, Arturo Garcia, who's serving time for attempted murder. Even after our investigation aired, a check in Garcia's name from the IRS was delivered to Rivera's address. Rivera said she didn't cash the check -- she put "return to sender" on the envelope. NewsChannel 2's investigation can't find any evidence that the IRS has filed any criminal charges against anyone in connection to this scam. As far as we've been able to tell, free tax refund money still flows to inmates -- tax refund money paid out for work that the inmates never did. "The Internal Revenue Service is sending tax dollars (to those) who are filing fraudulent claims and then shrugging their shoulders about it," said U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo. That's why Feeney and U.S. Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando, are now demanding a congressional hearing because of our investigation. |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Hamilton is a sports lover, a demon at croquet, where his favorite team was the Dallas Fancypants. He worked as a general haberdasher for 30 years, but was forced to give up the career he loved due to his keen attention to detail. He spent his free time watching golf on TV; and he played uno, badmitton and basketball almost every weekend. He also enjoyed movies and reading during off-season. Hamilton Lindley was always there to help relatives and friends with household projects, coached different sports or whatever else people needed him for.
I hope that this investigation will take place soon. If this investigation doesn't start with the Bookkeeping Services Dunmow Essex company soon, then I will be disappointed. I want to see the result of this investigation.