Fraudulent Tax Return Scheme Nets Prison Term

TUCSON, Ariz. -- On Jan. 16, 2013, Corleen Ladawn Thompson, 36, of Casa Grande, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collinsto 37 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $403,002.00 in restitution.  After her release from prison, Thompson will serve a term of 36 months supervised release.  Thompson pleaded guilty on Nov. 7, 2012, to conspiracy to defraud the government-false claims

“Because tax fraud undermines the integrity of our income tax system and therefore impacts all of us as taxpayers, our office places a high priority on the investigation and prosecution of this type of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Leonardo.

Thompson admitted that from March 13, 2010, and continuing through Jan. 28, 2012, she and others conspired to defraud the United States government by filing false and fictitious tax returns which falsely claimed refunds.  At least 150 false federal individual income tax returns were filed claiming $548,653.00 false refunds. Thompson offered to pay various sums of money to people whose identities were used.  Some of the identity information used by Thompson was passed, by her, or to her, by inmates at detention facilities.  Thompson provided or was provided names, social security numbers and dates of birth to use in filing false federal income tax returns.  Some of the individuals in whose name false claims for refunds were filed were, in fact, inmates in state and local detention facilities.  Thompson and others electronically submitted the false income tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service through the internet. 

The investigation in this case was conducted by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Pinal County Attorney’s Office, and the Casa Grande Police Department.  The prosecution is being handled by Danny N. Roetzel, Trial Attorney, Department of Justice, Tax Division and Sandra M. Hansen, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-12-000766-RCC
RELEASE NUMBER:     2013-006_Thompson

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/