Alabama Women Indicted For Cashing Fraudulently Obtained Tax Refund Checks

Montgomery, Alabama - A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama, returned an indictment charging Shatoubrioune Hare George, who is also known as “Tobie”, for conspiring to cash fraudulently obtained federal tax refund checks, the Department of Justice, United States Attorney George L. Beck, Jr., and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The 6-count indictment charges George with conspiracy to commit theft of public funds and with theft of public funds.

According to the indictment, George and others obtained U.S. Treasury tax refund checks that were issued due to the filing of fraudulent tax returns. George and others cashed seventy-seven fraudulently obtained U.S. Treasury tax refund checks that totaled approximately $137,016.24 by bringing them to a bank teller who worked for a bank in Wetumpka, Alabama.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, she faces 5 years imprisonment for the conspiracy count and faces 10 years imprisonment for each theft of public funds count. She is also subject to fines, mandatory restitution, and forfeiture if convicted.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the IRS - Criminal Investigation. Trial attorneys Charles Edgar, Jr. and Michael Boteler of the United States Department of Justice, Tax Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Todd Brown are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Justice Department's Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found at justice.gov/tax.

PRESS CONTACT: Clark Morris
Email: usaalm.press@usdoj.gov
Telephone: (334) 551-1755
Fax: (334) 223-7617