Conspiracy included two members from Central Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Kingsport, Tenn., woman, who was previously found guilty of participating in a conspiracy to commit identity theft and tax fraud, has been sentenced today to three years in federal prison.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove sentenced 33-year-old Bonnie Sue Fleenor for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Testimony at her trial revealed that Fleenor worked with several other individuals to steal the identifying information of hundreds of Tennessee state prison inmates, to use that information to file false federal income tax returns and fraudulently obtain tax refunds.
Fleenor participated in this conspiracy by handling the fraudulently obtained tax refund checks, supplying forged power-of-attorney forms and other assistance to co-conspirators, who cashed these checks and distributed the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme.
Between November 2008 and June 2013, members of this conspiracy filed hundreds of false federal income tax returns, seeking over $3.2 million in tax refunds. Twelve other individuals have been convicted and sentenced for participation in the conspiracy. These include Adam Alloway (60 months), Gregory Hedges (48 months), David Hedges (48 months), Teresa Rogers (42 months), Ira Lingo (30 months), Linda Ward (21 months), Amanda Hall (16 months), Joyce Bickers (12 months), and Sara Lingerfelt (6 months).
Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney; Tommy Coke, Inspector in Charge, Pittsburgh Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Tracey D. Montaño, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, jointly made the announcement.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew T. Boone and Kathryn M. Anderson prosecuted this case on behalf of the federal government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
