DOJ-USA Seal
U.S. Department of Justice


United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

 

 
 
 

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA INQUIRIES: KATHY COLVIN

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

 

 


 

 

MANSFIELD, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN
TAX AND IDENTITY THEFT CASE


DALLAS — Thomas W. Richardson, who was indicted on five counts of making a false claim for a refund, seven counts of theft of government property, and two counts of aggravated identity theft, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Richardson was arrested this week and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was released on a personal recognizance bond; that order identifies him as a Mansfield, Texas, resident. A trial date has not yet been set.

The indictment alleges that in 2006, Richardson made false claims for refunds for five individuals, including himself, totaling more than $2.7 million; nearly $1.7 million of those false claims were for himself. If convicted on these counts, Richardson faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count.

In addition, the indictment alleges that in 2006, Richardson stole more than $1.8 million in tax refunds, and in two instances on May 19, 2006, Richardson used the name and social security number of two other persons to steal more than a half of a million dollars in tax refunds. If convicted on these seven theft of government property charges, Richardson faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count. If convicted on the two aggravated identity theft counts, Richardson faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, per count.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.

U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division Trial Attorneys Robert A. Kemins and Jed M. Silversmith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Revesz of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Dallas, are in charge of the prosecution.

###