Saluda Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing False Tax Returns

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Brenda Rodgers, age 57, of Saluda, was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to filing false tax returns.  Rodgers was also ordered to pay $156,536.09 in restitution to the IRS for back taxes.  United States District Court Judge Timothy Cain, of Anderson, presided.  

Evidence presented to the court established that from 2012 through 2016, Rodgers was an employee of a property and casualty insurance agency located in Columbia.  Rodgers embezzled by writing checks from a particular client’s account to herself and forging the name of her supervisor.  During the tax years 2012 through 2016, Rodgers wrote herself 325 checks totaling over $337,000.  Rodgers concealed her activity by making false entries in the accounting records and on check stubs.  She also removed pages from the bank statements that contained photocopies of the checks transferring funds into her bank account.  By creating false entries and removing bank records, Rodgers avoided reporting taxable income associated with her embezzlement.  As a result, she avoided tax payments totaling $156,536.09.

Rodgers confessed to deputies of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, explaining that she used the money to pay bills, make car payments, and pay off her mortgage. 

The United States Internal Revenue Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Winston David Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

#####