Why would you want to file two individual federal tax returns for one person for one year? Unless you’re amending your return, you don’t do this…unless you’re committing tax fraud.
And from just up the road in Huntington Beach comes the story of an individual who is alleged to have just done that. A federal grand jury indicted James David Richardson with five counts of filing false claims, and one count of obstructing the due administration of the Internal Revenue Service.
Mr. Richardson allegedly filed multiple tax returns for each year between 2000 and 2003, and made false claims asking for $852,278 in refunds he wasn’t entitled to. In 2001 he apparently received refunds of $286,345 that is alleged to have come from multiple false claims.
But I do like what he was then alleged to have done. The indictment charges that Mr. Richardson filed a complaint with Congressman David Drier relating to the delay in payment of his allegedly falsely claimed refunds. He also is alleged to have sent a check for $1,990,000 to the IRS that showed amounts of withholding…except that is alleged never to have happened. Oh, the check bounced, too. Now these actions show some chutzpah.
If Mr. Richardson is convicted on all counts, he could face 53 years in prison. He also could be liable for fines and restitution.