You have to wonder how efficient both the IRS and Social Security systems are in this country if one person can file fake claims for 3 years before finally getting busted.
According to the Chicago Tribune, 35 year old Zorana Theresa Charleston-Black filed 293 false tax returns between 2005 and 2008 for refunds the amount of $403,697. Oddly, $404,000 over a period of three years was not enough for Charleston-Black, who also used a stolen identity to collect $25,000 in Social Security retirement and survivors' benefits she was not entitled to. Talk about jumping the gun; anyone my age would be stupid to believe Social Security will be around by the time we're actually ready to retire but that doesn't mean getting a jump on that using someone else's identity is a good idea.
Charleston-Black was arrested Tuesday and faces the judge on Friday.
The federal indictment alleges that Charleston-Black – who also goes by the nickname "T" – borrowed the identities of 20 residents of Illinois and filed fraudulent tax returns to claim refunds ranging from $2,454 to $12,389. At least 200 of the returns included false information for wages, income tax withholding and business expenses.
This begs the question… can she deduct her lawyer fees as a business expense on her 2012 return from prison next year?
