Memphis, TN - Temetriss Pope, 34, of Memphis, TN was sentenced last week by U.S. Senior District Judge Jon P. McCalla to 48 months in prison for stealing government funds through the filing of false income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III.
According to the charging document and the facts discussed in court, at different times from 2008 to 2012, Temetriss Pope and other individuals obtained the names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers of individuals without their knowledge or consent, and thereafter filed numerous federal tax returns claiming refunds using this information. Some of this information was obtained from a Shelby County Warrant book that had been stolen.
Pope and others opened bank accounts in the name of fictitious businesses and directed the U.S. Department of Treasury tax refunds associated with the false tax returns to be electronically deposited into these accounts. Pope and her associates used different versions of tax preparation software to electronically file hundreds of false tax returns and fraudulently obtained over $870,000 during the scheme.
In addition to the prison sentence, Pope was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $870,252.45. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and IRS-CID and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hall on behalf of the government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
