Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 9, 2009
Contact : Sue McKinney
TAX VIOLATORS SENTENCED
United States Attorney Maxwell Wood announced that on July 7, 2009 sentences were imposed on Robin Canty, Yolanda Canty and Jacqueline Kier before the Honorable C. Ashley Royal, District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia. All three defendants entered guilty pleas on April 7, 2009 to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the Government with Respect to Claims, 18 United States Code, Section 286.
Robin Canty received twenty-one months imprisonment; three years supervised release; $100 mandatory assessment fee; and ordered to pay $34,889.00 restitution.
Jacqueline Kier received twelve months imprisonment; three years supervised release; $100 mandatory assessment fee; and ordered to pay $24,318.00 restitution.
Yolanda Canty received eight months imprisonment; three years supervised release; $100 mandatory assessment fee; and ordered to pay $34,889.00 restitution.
The investigation revealed that the defendants were involved in a scheme to file false tax returns based on fabricated W-2 forms in their own names and in the names of others. Most of the “taxpayers” had no knowledge of the returns being filed in their names. The defendants would persuade individuals to provide them with their names, social security numbers and dates of birth. The defendants would use this information to create false W-2 forms in the name of actual employers who did not employ the individuals. The tax returns would be electronically filed and requests made for refund anticipation loans; then the refunds would be sent by direct deposit to a bank account which was controlled by the defendants.
Wood stated, “this case is a good reminder that the we take fraudulent tax schemes very seriously as we seek justice for the innocent victims.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Group, Macon, Georgia and the prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Graham Thorpe.
