"TAX FRAUD SENT BACK TO PRISON"
Spokane – Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Richard Ivan Vancil, age 44, of Spokane, was sentenced yesterday to 23 months in prison for tax fraud.
On April 19, 2011, the Defendant waived indictment and pled guilty to two counts of making a false claim for income tax refunds. While serving a custodial sentence for a state crime at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, Washington, Richard Vancil prepared and submitted approximately 63 false claims for income tax refunds totaling $92,798. Richard Vancil filed three claims for tax refunds in his name; the remaining 60 false claims were presented in the names of other inmates. Defendant's scheme was identified by the Washington State Department of Corrections and the IRS Fraud Detection Center. The IRS Fraud Detection Center prevented payment of more than two dozen of the false claims. However, the IRS issued refunds on the false claims totaling $54,781.
Richard Vancil will be under court supervision for three years after he is released from prison. He was ordered to pay $54,781 in restitution to the IRS.
Michael C. Ormsby, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, said, "I commend our law enforcement partners at the Department of Corrections and IRS for detecting this scheme which involved stealing from the hard working, honest taxpayers who rightfully pay their taxes."
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Washington State Department of Corrections. This case was prosecuted by George J.C. Jacobs, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
11-CR-6033-LRS
