Florida Fraudster Guilty

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Florida man Craig Lee Workman, age 42, pleaded guilty before Judge William K. Sessions in federal court in Burlington yesterday to a fraud conspiracy. 

Workman admitted that during 2010‑12, he used identification information belonging to other persons to file false income tax returns under their names, claiming tax refunds.  The fraudulent filings directed the IRS to wire refunds to bank accounts controlled by Workman in Florida and Vermont.  He did this about 125 times, 25 times successfully, causing the IRS to pay out around $180,000 in refunds to his banks.  There were about 100 unsuccessful 1040 filings, which did not result in refunds.  Workman and his spouse bought, among other things, a Mercedes Benz with the proceeds.

In April, 2011, Workman and his spouse visited five different H&R Block offices in northeastern Vermont and nearby New Hampshire.  In each, they sought assistance filing tax returns for other persons, whom they described as incarcerated family members.

Workman faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years.  The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.  Workman has been detained by the U.S. Marshal=s Service since his arrest in Florida several months ago.  He is represented by Federal Public Defender David McColgin.  The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Darrow.