Mansfield, Texas, Man Admits to Theft of Government Property and Aggravated Identity Theft

WASHINGTON – Thomas W. Richardson of Mansfield, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft before the Honorable Jane J. Boyle in Dallas, the Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today.

Richardson admitted that within a two day period from April 15, 2006, to April 17, 2006, he filed or caused to be filed 29 fraudulent 2005 IRS Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, according to the written statement filed by Richardson.  Each federal income tax return claimed a refund of between $215,801 and $473,832.  Richardson admitted that the refunds claimed by all 29 tax returns totaled $7,922,657.   Richardson further admitted that each tax return was filed claiming the married filing jointly election and listed two taxpayers, husband and wife.  In each case the Social Security numbers reported on the tax returns were assigned to individuals and in most cases, the names on the tax returns matched the names of the individuals to whom the Social Security numbers were assigned.  Richardson admitted that the tax returns were prepared without the authorization of the 58 taxpayers listed on the tax returns.  All of the returns directed that the IRS pay the money to one of Richardson’s bank accounts.  According to Richardson’s statement, the IRS paid out seven refunds for a total $1,865,401 between May 12, 2006 and May 19, 2006.  All but $31,149 was recouped by the IRS.

Sentencing has been set for Dec. 1, 2011, and Richardson remains free on bail pending sentencing.  Richardson faces a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. 

James Jacks, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, and John A. DiCicco, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, commended the efforts of the IRS-Criminal Investigation agents who investigated the case and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Robert A. Kemins and Jed Silversmith, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Revesz, who are prosecuting the case.

More information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/tax.