Four people pleaded guilty this week to stealing almost $25,000 from Georgia through fraudulent income tax returns, the state Attorney General said.
The scheme involved filing tax returns for people, without their knowledge, who do not live or work in Georgia, Attorney General Sam Olens’ office said. The victims’ information was used to file phony tax returns , which were then mailed to the conspirators, Olens said.
Kimberly Banks, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of racketeering and one count of theft by taking, the Attorney General said. On Wednesday, Monique Bussey, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and one count of theft by taking, and Brittany Banks and Shaneka Richards, both of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to theft by taking.
Kimberly Banks was sentenced to five years in prison, five years probation and restitution in the amount of $24,908. Brittany Banks was sentenced under the First Offender Act to three years probation and restitution in the amount of $3436. Bussey was sentenced under the First Offender Act to 10 years probation and restitution in the amount of $24,908. Shaneka Richards was sentenced to six months imprisonment, two and a half years probation and restitution in the amount of $3436.
A fifth defendant, Melissa Helm, of Jonesboro, pleaded guilty to racketeering and theft by taking in December was sentenced to one year in prison and four years probation.
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