Oakland Resident Sentenced To 20 Months’ Imprisonment In Tax Fraud Conspiracy

OAKLAND – Cassandra Tompkins was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment on a charge of conspiracy to file false federal tax returns, announced Acting United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas McMahon.  Today’s sentence follows Tompkins’ guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to file false federal tax returns. 

According to the plea agreement, on January 15, 2015, Tompkins, 48, of Oakland, was charged in a thirteen-count indictment along with co-defendants, Cordia Spearman, 46, of Vacaville; Damien Mitchell, 52, of El Sobrante; and Tanya Keith, 48, of Oakland, with conspiracy to file false federal tax returns, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 286.  Tompkins was also charged with theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641; filing false claims, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 287; and aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A.   Mitchell was also charged with theft of government property and aggravated identity theft.  Keith was also charged with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and aggravated identity theft. 

On August 20, 2015, Tompkins, Spearman, and Mitchell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to file false claims.  On September 17, 2015, Keith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to file false claims.  Pursuant to the terms of her plea agreement, Tompkins admitted that between January 15, 2011, and May 15, 2012, she, along with Spearman, Mitchell, and Keith, obtained and used personal identifying information to prepare false federal income tax returns.  Specifically, defendants used names and social security numbers of individuals to prepare and file 219 false federal income tax returns with the IRS claiming $678,426 in tax refunds, of which $287,498 was paid by the IRS.  Tompkins maintained notebooks that listed the names and other personal identifying information for taxpayers, along with false W-2s, which she filed with the IRS.  Tompkins, Spearman and Mitchell all received a portion of certain tax refunds.

The sentence for Tompkins was handed down by the Honorable James Donato, U.S. District Judge. Judge Donato also sentenced Tompkins to pay $678,426 in restitution and to serve a 3 year period of supervised release.  Tompkins will begin serving the sentence on February 11, 2016. 

Spearman is scheduled for sentencing on January 21, 2016, before Judge Donato in San Francisco.  The sentencing hearing for Damien Mitchell and Tanya Keith is not yet scheduled.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Stier is prosecuting the case.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.