| Two arrested in alleged $5M tax refund fraud |
|
| The Denver District Attorney's Office and investigators from the Colorado Department of Revenue have arrested two people and are searching for a third person accused of stealing $5 million through phony tax refunds. Michelle Cawthra, 30, a supervisor for the Colorado Department of Revenue, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly engaging in an elaborate scheme to authorize fake tax refunds for companies owned by two friends. Andre Holliday, 41, was also arrested on Saturday for investigation of theft. An arrest warrant has been issued for Hysear Don Randell, 40, who remains at large. The alleged scheme that paid out more than $5 million in fraudulent tax refunds was uncovered by investigators with the Colorado Department of Revenue on Friday, April 27. Arrest warrants were issued later that afternoon. Investigators said in a press release that they expect to uncover additional losses as the investigation continues. Cawthra and Holliday's bonds were set at $10 million each. They remain in jail. |
While nobody likes filing tax returns, most people are rewarded handsomely for their efforts: About 75% of taxpayers get a refund, according to the Internal Revenue Service. In 2005, the average refund rang in at more than $2,000, a nice chunk of change.
| AP - More than 3 million people will have to wait until February to get their tax refunds because of Congress' late fix to the alternative minimum tax, the IRS said Thursday. | |
| Read more... |