Inmate tried to bilk IRS out of $890M, while behind bars

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

(Credit: AP)

(CBS/AP) SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A New York prison inmate doing time for theft has a new problem: a jury has convicted him of filing false tax returns seeking $890 million in refunds.

Who's his accountant, H&R cell block?

Prosecutors say the inmate filed the bogus returns from 2006 to 2010 while at various state prisons. They say he was even was issued a refund for $327,000 - but prison officials intercepted the check and returned it to the Internal Revenue Service, which led to the investigation.

The man was convicted Thursday of 11 counts of filing false claims, and one count of helping another inmate file bogus returns.

He was already serving two to four years for possession of stolen property when he was charged last February. Now he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the 11 tax fraud count when he's sentenced anew in May.

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by VO142857 January 31, 2012 11:07 AM EST: If he spent haf as much energy and creativity doing something useful, he would live a good life.; Reply to this comment


by JDAD2 January 31, 2012 11:00 AM EST: funniest part was they sent a check; Reply to this comment


by AAnnie52 January 31, 2012 9:57 AM EST: Somebody was dreamin' big - did he not think SOMEBODY would notice? (which, of course, they did.); Reply to this comment