FIVE INDIVIDUALS SENTENCED FOR FRAUDULENT FEDERAL TAX REFUNDS

Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that Marvin K. Jones, Jr., age 25, Towan A. White, age 35, of Americus, Georgia, James B. Wiley, III, age 39, of Plains, Georgia, Russell D. Navarre, age 32, of Covington, Georgia, and Damico D. Evans, age 33, of Loganville, Georgia, were sentenced on May 17, 2012, before the Honorable W. Louis Sands, United States District Court, in Albany, Georgia.

The one count indictment charged each of the individuals with conspiracy to obtain fraudulent federal tax refunds for the Internal Revenue Service and United States Department of Treasury.  The conspirators prepared over one hundred and fifty (150) false federal income tax returns using the names and identifying information of prison inmates or persons living in the community.  The information was then forwarded to Marvin K. Jones, Sr., who then prepared false W-2 forms along with Navarre from the library of the prison where they were incarcerated.  False federal income tax returns were prepared and sent to the IRS causing refund checks to be issued.  The defendants would receive the refund checks and divide the proceeds among themselves.

            The individuals were sentenced as follows:

U.S. Attorney Moore said, “When these defendants defrauded the United States Treasury, every law-abiding citizen was victimized.  The very idea that this type of criminal activity was, at least in part, carried out inside a prison facility is outrageous.  While we all have to accept our tax responsibilities, we don’t have to tolerate people stealing from us.”

The case was investigated by Agents of the Internal Revenue Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jim Crane.  For additional information please contact Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, at (478) 752-3511.