Former Federal Prison Guard Guilty Of Tax Crimes

A former federal correctional officer pled guilty in US District Court on January 28, 2013, for filing false tax returns, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Attillah Ruffin, 42, waived her right to be indicted by the Grand Jury and pled guilty to an Information.

Ruffin admitted falsifying her personal income tax returns each tax year from 2005-2010. During that time period she defrauded the US Government out of $22,108 by claiming false dependents, false child care expenses, false unreimbursed employee expenses, and false residential energy credits. Ruffin also admitted to fraudulently obtaining a larger tax refund by using an inapplicable filing status by claiming to be a “head of household” when her filing status should have been “single.” Ruffin admitted that these crimes occurred while she was employed as a law enforcement officer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The crime of filing a false tax return is punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release upon release from prison. However, the United States Sentencing Guidelines must be applied to the case and considered by the Court during sentencing. Ruffin will be sentenced on May 17, 2013.

The investigation was conducted by agents from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.