Ex-Taxman Sentenced for $7.9 Million Fraud

DALLAS (CN) - A former taxman who tried to claim $7.9 million in fraudulent tax refunds was sentenced Thursday to 105 months in federal prison.

Thomas W. Richardson, of Mansfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle and ordered to pay $30,649 in restitution. He pleaded guilty in August to one count of theft of government property and one count of aggravated identity theft.

During sentencing, Boyle said that Richardson was a former IRS employee who used his inside knowledge of the agency's operations to commit the crime.

According to court filings, Richardson admitted that over a two day period, he filed 29 fraudulent tax forms claiming refunds of over $7.9 million.

The refunds claimed ranged between $215,801 and $473,832 for each return, according to U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Richardson admitted that he used the names and Social Security numbers of other taxpayers without authorization to file the fraudulent returns.

Seven refunds were paid out for $1.865 million, all of which was later recovered other than the $30,649 that was ordered as restitution.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Revesz.

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