Kingsport Woman Pleads Guilty To Filing False And Fraudulent Federal Income Tax Returns

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On Mar. 10, 2014, Melissa Ann Nowlin, 28, of Kingsport, Tenn., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to claims and four counts of theft of public money.

According to supporting documentation for the plea agreement, Nowlin conspired with Devin Ray Horne, 24, of Kingsport, Tenn., to fraudulently obtain funds by filing false federal tax returns using personal identifying information which Horne stole from other individuals in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Nowlin previously pleaded guilty in August 2013 to other charges involving her participation with Horne and numerous others in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone pills. Sentencing for Nowlin on both the oxycodone conspiracy and the fraudulent income tax return case is set for Jun. 30, 2014, before the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge.

The investigation leading to the charges and guilty plea was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Kingsport Police Department and Bristol Tennessee Police Department, all of which provided invaluable assistance during the course of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Taylor represented the United States.