GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN -Today, Acting United States Attorney Andrew Birge announced that Diallo Dotson, formerly of Battle Creek, Michigan, entered a plea of guilty in federal district court to conspiring with Derrick J. Gibson to file false and fraudulent federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.
In February 2016, a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging 34 defendants with federal conspiracy for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service through the filing of false federal income tax returns claiming more than $22 million in false and fraudulent federal income tax refunds. A multi-year joint investigation led by the Internal Revenue Service, Veterans Affairs - Office of the Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Department of Homeland Security, Battle Creek Police Department, Albion Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, and Michigan State Police resulted in the federal charges.
The Indictment alleged that the defendants utilized other individuals’ personal identification information -- obtained in part from patients and employees of the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center and from inmates of the Michigan Department of Corrections -- to file false tax returns. To date, 33 of the 34 defendants charged with connspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service have entered pleas of guilty. One defendant, Romell Bolden, was dismissed from the indictment when his mother, co-defendant Simone Watkins, admitted that she and Derrick Gibson filed the false federal income tax returns in his name.
DERRICK J. GIBSON
Plea of Guilty on Aug. 16, 2016
Sentenced on January 6, 2017 to 120 months in prison and restitution of $16,000,000
CHARMICA GRIFFIN
Plea of Guilty on October 4, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on February 8, 2017
STEPHANIE T. BAKER
Plea of Guilty on October 7, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 16, 2017
LATIA M. WILLIAMS, former employee of Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 18, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 13, 2017
ALVIN E. STEPHENSON II, former employee of Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 21, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 13, 2017
SANDRIA M. BLAKLEY, former employee of Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 29, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 20, 2017
EDWARD WARDEN, JR.
Plea of Guilty on May 4, 2016
Sentenced on Oct. 31, 2016, to 30 months in prison and restitution of $110,004
CHANEL MCLENNEY
Plea of Guilty on December 7, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 27, 2017
DARWIN GIBSON
Plea of Guilty on November 4, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 3, 2017
BOBBY CRABTREE, Michigan Department of Corrections inmate
Plea of Guilty on May 17, 2016
Sentenced on Oct. 11, 2016, to 30 months in prison consecutive to State sentences already being served and restitution of $24,205
DEQYNN GIBSON
Plea of Guilty on Oct. 26, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on March 7, 2017
DARRIEN GIBSON
Plea of Guilty on Oct. 24, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on March 7, 2017
ROCHELLE R. VELASQUEZ
Plea of Guilty on July 11, 2016
Sentenced on Nov. 16, 2016, to 2 years of probation and restitution of $69,156
SCHERRIE P. MCNUTT
Plea of Guilty on April 26, 2016
Sentenced on Oct. 11, 2016, to 18 months in prison and restitution of $188,398
DEVOINE GIBSON
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 14, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 10, 2017
PRENTIS H. GIBSON
Plea of Guilty on Oct. 11, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 16, 2017
LAMONT JOYNER
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 28, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 27, 2017
SHAMEIKA N. CARR
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 29, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on May 3, 2017
CHARLEETA CORK
Plea of Guilty on December 8, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on May 15, 2017
KEITH CORK
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 29, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on May 3, 2017
MAIYA R. JACKSON
Plea of Guilty on July 22, 2016
Sentenced on Oct. 19, 2016, to time served (4 months and 3 days)
SHAWN MCKNIGHT, Michigan Department of Corrections inmate
Plea of Guilty on May 13, 2016
Sentenced on October 5, 2016, to 12 months in prison consecutive to State sentences already being served
DAVID HAYMER, Michigan Department of Corrections inmate
Plea of Guilty on March 25, 2016
Sentenced on October 5, 2016, to 18 months in prison consecutive to State sentences already being served and restitution of $34,684
DIALLO DOTSON
Plea of Guilty on Jan. 27, 2017
Scheduled for sentencing on May 22, 2017
ROMELL BOLDEN
Dismissed from indictment
LABRISHA PORTER
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 1, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on March 16, 2017
KYPREE TAYLOR
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 10, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 3, 2017
ROSEMARY BOYD
Plea of Guilty on October 5, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on February 9, 2017
PATRICIA RIDDLE-MCCLINTON
Plea of Guilty on December 7, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on May 1, 2017
JOSEPH JEREMY JOHNSON, Michigan Department of Corrections inmate
Plea of Guilty on June 2, 2016
Sentenced on Oct. 31, 2016, to 24 months in prison consecutive to State sentences already being served and restitution of $34,644
KISHA N. EVANS
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 14, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 10, 2017
RASHALL FORD
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 2, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on March 16, 2017
SIMONE WATKINS
Plea of Guilty on Jan. 26, 2017
Scheduled for sentencing on May 25, 2017
ROMARO CARSWELL
Plea of Guilty on Nov. 30, 2016
Scheduled for sentencing on April 20, 2017
Acting United States Attorney Birge stated, “This conspiracy involved a wide array of individuals, including three federal employees, who believed that they could steal money from the Internal Revenue Service over a period of years with impunity. But they found out that the Internal Revenue Service is very good at finding those who use the tax system to steal from the government and that my office will hold them responsible."
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney B. Rene Shekmer.
END
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
