INDReporter

N.I. woman going to prison for scheming IRS

A New Iberia woman was sentenced in federal court Friday to 26 months in prison for an IRS tax scheme in which she was paid more than $77,000 in illegitimate refund checks.

According to a press release from U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley's Office, Veta Thompson, 40, of New Iberia, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to serve 26 months in prison with one year supervised release. Thompson also was ordered to pay $77,349 in restitution to the IRS.

Thompson, according to the release:

[C]ontacted the IRS on Jan. 15, 2008 and asked how overpayments were handled. From Jan. 15, 2008 until April 29, 2010, she submitted 386 payments to the IRS totaling $12,825,992.33. During the time she submitted the payments, she was aware of the fact that she had no tax liability and that no money was owed to her by the IRS. Thompson's bank rejected her payments to the IRS because her account was closed or because of insufficient funds.

Prior to the IRS becoming aware that the payments were drawn from closed or insufficient fund accounts, the IRS issued nine refund checks totaling $77,349.09. They were mailed to her home and were used for gambling related expenses.

"[Thompson] fraudulently obtained money that she was not entitled to receive," says Finley in a prepared statement. "Her dishonest conduct has resulted in significant jail time. This office will continue to prosecute those who abuse and violate the tax laws."