Paul L. Caron
Dean





Sunday, April 10, 2011

Jailed Rapist Gets $119k in Tax Refunds; Caught by Prison Guard, Not IRS

KPHO, Jailed Rapist Gets $119K From Fake Tax Returns:

An Arizona man in jail for rape pulled a fast one on the IRS to the tune of $119,000 dollars. Troy Fears filed more than 117 fake tax returns from prison in Arizona and Maine from 2005 to 2009. ... A judge tacked another 4-years on to the convicted rapist's life sentence today.

It wasn't auditors who caught him. A prison guard intercepted some of his mail and called the feds. The key to the operation was direct deposits, which the IRS routes without making sure the name on the account matches the return, according to court papers.

https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2011/04/jailed-rapist-.html

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Comments

I would be genuinely surprised if the guard is not sued for breech of the prisoner's privacy.

Posted by: BigSoph | Apr 11, 2011 1:37:23 PM

...but don't worry, they'll manage your health care properly!

Posted by: MPM (UC Law '89) | Apr 11, 2011 10:30:25 AM

That's quite a feat. The IRS routinely catches minor errors in my returns. How did a convict file 117 returns that were accurate enough to escape detection, even if the direct deposit procedures are bad?

Posted by: Mj | Apr 11, 2011 8:14:27 AM

Evidently this miscreant has too much time on his hands. How about hard labor or a noose for garbage like this?

Posted by: forrest | Apr 11, 2011 7:38:28 AM

Maine? Was it Shawshank Prison?

Posted by: ChrisN | Apr 11, 2011 7:22:56 AM

Just more proof that the IRS should be eliminated. They are not actually in the business of enforcing the law. I hope the prison guard gets a reward.

Posted by: Ferd | Apr 11, 2011 7:20:09 AM

Tax refund fraud is a big problem. See

http://chicago.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/cg071510.htm

Posted by: GaryD | Apr 11, 2011 7:03:17 AM