Southeast Texas Women Sentenced for Inmate Income Tax Scheme

BEAUMONT, Texas –Two Southeast Texas women have been sentenced to federal prison in connection with an income tax return scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Stasha Franchell Anderson, 34, of Jasper, Texas, pleaded guilty on July 1, 2015 to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.  Jessica Bellis, 43, of Baytown, Texas, pleaded guilty on July 9, 2015 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison today by Judge Crone. 

According to information presented in court, Derek Cornelius Briscoe, 36, held himself out as a tax preparer sometimes doing business as “Thaferrets Tax Service” from his residence in Jasper, Texas.  Briscoe maintained contacts with the female inmates at the Jefferson County Jail in Beaumont, Texas.  Briscoe offered those inmates a fee in exchange for personally identifying information of other inmates that could be used to facilitate the filing of false tax returns.  Anderson and Bellis were inmates who supplied Briscoe with the personally identifiable information of other inmates to file false tax returns.  The two women emailed or telephoned Briscoe to give him the inmates’ personal information, which was then used to electronically file fraudulent tax returns for the years 2009, 2010, and 2011. The false tax returns consisted of fictitious employment information, income, and deductions for educational expenses. The refunds were deposited in bank accounts controlled by Briscoe. Briscoe was previously sentenced for his part in the scheme. During times when Anderson was not incarcerated, she also aided Briscoe in the preparation of the false tax returns. Anderson, Bellis, and Briscoe were involved in the preparation of over 500 false tax returns.

Briscoe was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison on Nov. 19, 2015.  Additionally, Anderson was ordered to pay restitution of $156,519 to the IRS while Bellis was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,000.  Both women are jointly and severally liable for $1,127,193 in total restitution along with defendant Briscoe.    

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Anne Bartow.