Memphis Woman Sentenced to 42 Months for Defrauding IRS of More Than $100,000

Memphis, TN – A 33-year-old Memphis woman has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing today.

According to the facts presented in the charging document and revealed during the sentencing, between January 26, 2012 and July 17, 2012, Felechia Williams participated in a scheme to obtain payment of fraudulent federal tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing false claims using the identities of various individuals without lawful authority. The stolen funds were routed to bank accounts controlled by Williams and others. As a result of the scheme, Williams and her two co-conspirators, Sharonda Carroll, 39, and Priscilla Rayford, 47, both of Memphis, received more than $100,000 in false federal income tax refunds.

In August 2015, Williams pled guilty to theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft.

On Thursday, November 19, 2015, Williams was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to 42 months in prison. Williams was also ordered to pay restitution of $108,471.66 to the IRS.

Carroll and Rayford have also entered guilty pleas. Carroll is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, November 24, 2015. Rayford is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, December 3, 2015.

This investigation was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall prosecuted the case on the government’s behalf.