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LA County resident pleads to fraudulent tax return finding scheme

by The AV Times Staff • February 1, 2019

LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles County resident pleaded guilty Thursday to engaging in a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service of over $150,000 through the submission of fraudulent federal income tax returns using the personal identifying information of 63 individuals without their consent.

Bridgette Charmine Potts, 52 pleaded guilty before United States District Judge John F. Walter to one count of wire fraud.

According to the plea agreement filed in the case, between 2014 and 2016, Potts knowingly submitted fraudulent tax returns to the IRS using the personal identifying information of 63 individuals, none of whom consented to this scheme. These fraudulent tax returns, which falsely represented that the victims had filed them, contained statements that were material; that is, they influenced the IRS to issue the fraudulent refunds.

Potts further caused the IRS to wire the refunds based on the fraudulent tax returns to bank accounts which she controlled.

During the course of the scheme, on Feb. 16, 2014, Potts knowingly submitted a fraudulent tax return to the IRS using the name and Social Security number of one victim who had not authorized Potts to file a tax return on his behalf. Based on the false statements that Potts made in filing this tax return, the IRS issued a refund payment intended for the victim in the amount of $4,405 which was electronically transferred to Pott’s bank account.

The total amount of loss to the IRS resulting from Pott’s scheme was approximately $159,377.

Potts faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison when sentenced by Judge Walter on April 15. Potts may also be ordered to pay restitution of $159,377 to the IRS.

This case is the product of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Mills.

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Home, Los Angeles County

7 comments for "LA County resident pleads to fraudulent tax return finding scheme"

  1. Quasimodo the original Sanctuary Kid says

    February 4, 2019 at 8:08 am

    Hey Good Citizen, Ted Bundy was a stanch Republican so in tune with your challenged thought process all Republicans must be serial killers…………right? But wait a second, John Wayne Gacy was a stanch Democrat so are all Democrats serial killers too? Let me get back on track, “SO SICK AND TIRED OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS COMMITING CRIMES.!” I assume you are good with dead Americans caused by illegal aliens, who are allowed in country by Democrats?

    • GOOD CITIZEN says

      February 4, 2019 at 1:28 pm

      IM GOOD I DONT KNOW ANYNODY THAT HAS BEEN MILLED BY AN ILLEGAL NEITHER DO YOU, SO ITS SOMETHING IRRELEVENT, WHAT I DO WANT IS MELANIA TRUMP NEEDS TO BE DEPORTED BACK TO HER COUNTRY SHE IS NOT AMERICAN & I ALSO WANT TRUMP AND HIS CRIMINAL FAMILY PUT BEHIND BARS ALONG WITH MANAFORT, COHEN, ROGER STONE AND OTHERS FOR SELLING OUR COUNTRY OUT TO RUSSIA, AMERICA WILL HAVE A GREAT CELEBRATION WHEN THAT HAPPENS.!

      • William says

        February 4, 2019 at 9:31 pm

        Melania is from Slovania. The joke there is that if she divorces trump, she gets half of the United States.

  2. GOOD CITIZEN says

    February 3, 2019 at 3:09 pm

    SO SICK AND TIRED OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS COMMITING CRIMES.!

    • John says

      February 3, 2019 at 7:14 pm

      Actually liberal democrats like hitlery and you commit Russian collusion money laundering crimes all day long

      • William says

        February 4, 2019 at 1:26 pm

        Oh, John

        Nice try.

  3. Fraudulent Returns says

    February 1, 2019 at 11:47 pm

    Ms. Potts should receive the maximum sentence and pay full restitution.

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