Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 14, 2017, Billie Jo Bottine (age 39) of Neenah, Wisconsin, was sentenced in Federal Court in Green Bay to 4 years in prison to be followed by 3 years on supervised release. The sentence follows her guilty plea to charges of filing numerous false federal income tax returns using other peoples’ identities, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 287, 1028A, and 1343. Ms. Bottine was also ordered to pay $186,414 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Bottine filed more than 70 false federal income tax returns in the names of 32 different people between 2009 and 2014. To prepare these false returns, Bottine unlawfully used the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of various individuals and children. She created fake W2 forms and fake Schedule C forms that she attached to the filings in an effort to obtain fraudulent tax refunds. In all, Bottine sought more than $340,000 in tax refunds from the IRS through these false federal income tax return filings.
While handing down the sentence, Chief United States District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the extended period over which the scheme occurred, the fact that Bottine stole the identities of several individuals, the large dollar amount of the fraud, and Bottine’s history of fraudulent conduct. Judge Griesbach stated that these types of tax fraud offenses are very serious crimes that call for significant sentences.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin W. Proctor. #
For further information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig at (414) 297-1700
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
