TAX FRAUD AGAIN

Alabama Woman Pleads Guilty for Involvement in a Large Scale Stolen Identity Refund Fraud
Tracey Montgomery, of Montgomery County, Ala., pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama to her role in a large scale stolen identity refund fraud, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.

On April 17, 2013, a federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., indicted Montgomery on conspiracy and theft of government money charges. According to court documents, Montgomery opened two bank accounts which were used to receive deposits of fraudulent tax refunds. Between August 2009 and February 2011, at least six false federal income tax refunds totaling approximately $49,221 were directed to Montgomery’s bank accounts. Montgomery was able to withdraw the false tax refund money before the IRS caught her. The overall scheme Montgomery participated in is alleged to have involved over $500,000 in false refunds. As a result of her plea, Montgomery faces a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

This case was investigated by special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation. Trial Attorneys Charles M. Edgar Jr., Michael Boteler, and Greg Bailey of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case with the assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama and, in particular, Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Brown.