Former IRS Employee involved on Tax Refund Scheme.

FORMER IRS EMPLOYEE AND WIFE SENTENCED IN D.C. PROPERTY TAX REFUND FRAUD SCHEME

Fraudulently Obtained Nearly $9 Million in D.C. Government Checks;
Used Funds to Purchase at Least Four Jaguars, a Townhouse and Vacations to the Bahamas.

Greenbelt, Maryland—U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced former IRS employee Robert O. Steven, age 55, of Edgewater, Maryland, today to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and his wife Patricia A. Steven, age 73, of Harwood, Maryland, to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, for receipt of stolen property and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a property tax refund scheme in which over $48 million were stolen from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeffrey A. Taylor.

Judge Williams also ordered that Robert Steven and Patricia Steven each pay $8,833,310.32, and, in order to satisfy such money judgment, to forfeit three Jaguar cars, two residences, jewelry and monies held in four bank accounts.

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein stated, “This case is particularly egregious because Robert Steven was an IRS employee when he joined in this conspiracy to steal millions of dollars from D.C. taxpayers and spend the money on luxury items, and his wife Patricia Steven spent over 16 years laundering almost $9 million into a bank account she controlled with her husband. We seek the forfeiture of all criminal proceeds and property purchased with stolen money because victims deserve restitution and criminals must not be permitted to profit from their crimes.”

“Money laundering is not a victimless crime. The underground, untaxed economy harms the entire nation’s economic strength. IRS-Criminal Investigation is united with the rest of the law enforcement community in our resolve to financially disrupt criminal organizations that commit crimes against our society and economy,” said C. Andre' Martin, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge.

According to court documents, Robert Steven was employed with the IRS since 1975. At the time of his arrest, Steven’s position was Division Director, Modernization Information Technology Systems, and his office was located at the IRS National Office in New Carrollton, Maryland.

According to the plea agreements, Patricia Steven first met Harriette Walters, a former manager within the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, in the mid-1970s. By the late 1980's, Harriette Walters proposed that Patricia Steven deposit a check drawn on a District of Columbia government bank account and made payable to Patricia Steven. Walters explained that Steven would be allowed to keep a portion of the proceeds from the check, but would have to return a substantial portion to Walters. Despite knowing that Walters obtained the check fraudulently, Patricia Steven agreed and deposited the first check.

Robert and Patricia Steven opened a business that eventually developed into a clothing design business called “Bellarmine Design.” Bellarmine Design never grossed more than $15,000 in a single year. From 1990 to 2007, Patricia Steven and Harriette Walters made 67 deposits of fraudulently obtained District of Columbia government checks or cash proceeds from the scheme into a Bellarmine Design checking account maintained by Steven and Patricia Steven. The individual checks ranged in amounts from a handful of initial deposits over $4,000 each, to subsequent deposits of up to $490,000. Patricia Steven also transferred at least $344,700 to Harriette Walters.

Patricia and Robert Steven transferred at least $1,709,500 of these funds into another bank account used primarily by Robert Steven. Using these funds, Robert and Patricia Steven purchased at least four Jaguar cars, a townhouse located in Edgewater, Maryland and multiple vacations to the Bahamas.

Harriette M. Walters, age 52, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy; 10 years for District of Columbia tax evasion; five years for federal tax evasion; and an order to pay restitution in the amount of $48,115,419.09. U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Emmet G. Sullivan has scheduled her sentencing for March 25, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Alethia O. Grooms, age 52, of Clinton, Maryland and Samuel Earl Pope, age 61, of Washington, D.C. also pleaded guilty to their participation in the scheme. Judge Sullivan scheduled their sentencing for February 24 and 26, 2009.

Jayrece Turnbull, age 34, of Bowie, Maryland, who is Harriette Walters’ niece, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in Baltimore to her participation in this tax refund scheme in which she deposited over $24 million in fraudulently obtained government checks into accounts she controlled. She faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for receipt of stolen property; 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the transactions involved, whichever is greater, for conspiracy to commit money laundering; 30 years for mail fraud; and five years and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater, for tax evasion. Judge Williams has scheduled her sentencing for February 4, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.

Judge Williams sentenced Ricardo R. Walters, age 33, of Ft. Washington, Maryland, on July 23, 2008 to 78 months in prison for receipt of stolen property and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Williams sentenced Richard Walters, age 49, of Bowie, Maryland, who is Harriette Walters’ brother, on November 4, 2008 to 51 months in prison for receipt of stolen property and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with this scheme.

Marilyn Yoon, age 40, of Derwood, Maryland; Walter Jones, age 33, of Essex, Maryland; and Connie Alexander, age 53, of Bowie, Maryland have also pleaded guilty to their participation in the scheme. Yoon, the next defendant to be sentenced, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of property obtained by fraud at her sentencing scheduled for December 11, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. Walter Jones faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the transactions involved, whichever is greater, for conspiracy to commit money laundering at his sentencing on January 5, 2009. Alexander faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for receipt of stolen property and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering at her sentencing scheduled by Judge Williams for February 12, 2009.

United States Attorneys Rod J. Rosenstein and Jeffrey A. Taylor thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; the Inspector General’s Office for the District of Columbia; the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, Criminal Investigation Division; the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; and the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Integrity and Oversight for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Su and Deborah Johnston from the District of Maryland and Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Lynch and David Johnson from the District of Columbia, who are prosecuting the case.

Jobs that Undocumented Immigrants Won't do.

Remember Lincoln quote: You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."

We are hearing from Nativists, Anti Immigrants reports of employers using Undocumented Immigrants or instances of Undocumented Immigrants engaged in criminal activity like committing fraud, Tax Evasion, stolen property but when we are talking about Citizens engaged on illegal activities which Undocumented Immigrants are put the blame on; They are remained quiet. I never said I supported breaking the law, but I feel for those who have to risk their lives, their families, their Country, and leave loved ones behind to come to America for a better life deserves an opportunitty specially those are not engaged in criminal activities.

Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and non Citizens to creates a country where everyone lives in fear. And I refuse to fall for false reassurances and the tempting comforts of ignorance, and I want to contribute my voice in outrage, when others are forced into silence, To speak the truth as I find it in favor of Justice for all.

This is a case of $48 million were stolen from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue.

U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. sentenced Richard Walters, age 49, of Bowie, Maryland, today to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for receipt of stolen property and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a property tax refund scheme in which over $48 million were stolen from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeffrey A. Taylor. Judge Williams also ordered that Richard Walters forfeit $4,900,199 and, in order to satisfy such money judgment, to forfeit a home in the Virgin Islands, two homes in Bowie, Maryland, a 2005 Bentley, four other vehicles, jewelry and monies held in several bank accounts.

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein stated, “Richard Walters and Harriette Walters deposited fifteen District of Columbia government checks totaling almost $5 million into a bank account in the name of his plumbing business over a period of six years. We will seek the forfeiture of all criminal proceeds and property purchased with stolen money because victims deserve restitution and criminals must not be permitted to profit from their crimes.”

According to the plea agreement, Richard Walters is the brother of Harriette Walters, a former manager within the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue. Richard Walters owned and operated a plumbing business called “Helmet’s Plumbing.” From March 2001 to May 2007, Richard Walters, and on occasion, Harriette Walters with Richard’s knowledge, deposited 15 District of Columbia government checks totaling $4,900,199 into a bank account Richard Walters maintained for his plumbing business. Richard Walters knew that the checks had been obtained by fraud as part of a scheme to embezzle funds from the District of Columbia government. The individual checks ranged in amounts from approximately $95,148 to $541,100.

On many occasions, Harriette directed Richard to take the checks to a bank and have Walter Jones, a bank manager, deposit them into the Helmet account. In addition, on several occasions, Richard Walters deposited a fraudulent District of Columbia government check and immediately thereafter directed Walter Jones to prepare cashier’s checks to recipients of Richard’s choosing.

From July 2001 to November 2007, Richard and Harriette Walters distributed funds from the Helmet account, including at least: 46 transactions directing $1,059,307.50 to accounts controlled by Richard Walters; 14 transactions directing $225,266.87 towards projects for a home that Richard Walters was building in the U.S. Virgin Islands; 11 transactions directing $461,000 to Harriette Walters; $47,149 to the Washington Wizards to purchase season tickets; $40,000 to Neiman Marcus; and $18,100 to Saks Fifth Avenue for purchases. Richard Walters also purchased a 2005 Bentley automobile with proceeds of the fraud.

Harriette M. Walters, age 52, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on September 16, 2008 and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy; 10 years for District of Columbia tax evasion; five years for federal tax evasion; and an order to pay restitution in the amount of $48,115,419.09. U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Emmet G. Sullivan has scheduled sentencing for Harriette Walters on March 25, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Alethia O. Grooms, age 52, of Clinton, Maryland and Samuel Earl Pope, age 61, of Washington, D.C. also pleaded guilty to their participation in the scheme, and are scheduled to be sentenced on February 24 and 26, 2009, respectively.

Patricia A. Steven, age 73, of Harwood, Maryland; Robert Steven, age 55, of Edgewater, Maryland; Connie Alexander, age 52, of Bowie, Maryland; Richard Walters, age 49, of Bowie, Maryland; Walter Jones, age 33, of Essex, Maryland; Marilyn Yoon, age 40, of Derwood, Maryland; and Ricardo R. Walters, age 33, of Ft. Washington, Maryland, have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland to their participation in the scheme. Patricia Steven, Robert Steven, Richard Walters and Alexander each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for receipt of stolen property and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering at their sentencing scheduled by U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland Alexander Williams, Jr. on December 8 at 10:00 a.m., December 8 at 1:15 p..m., November 4, 2008, and February 12, 2009, respectively. Walter Jones faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the transactions involved, whichever is greater, for conspiracy to commit money laundering at his sentencing on a date which is not yet scheduled. Marilyn Yoon faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of property obtained by fraud at her sentencing on
December 4, 2008.

United States Attorneys Rod J. Rosenstein and Jeffrey A. Taylor thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; the Inspector General’s Office for the District of Columbia; the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, Criminal Investigation Division; the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; and the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Integrity and Oversight for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Su and Deborah Johnston from the District of Maryland and Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Lynch and David Johnson from the District of Columbia, who are prosecuting the case.

WOMAN ARRESTED ON FEDERAL FRAUD CHARGES FOR DEFRAUDING MEDICARE OUT OF $12 MILLION




This morning, special agents with the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation arrested the operator of Wescove Home Health Services at her home in Covina on health care fraud and money laundering charges stemming from her participation in a scheme that defrauded Medicare out of more than $12 million.
Felcoranenda “Nenda” Estudillo, 50, a registered nurse, ran Wescove, which was based in the city of West Covina. Estudillo was Wescove’s administrator, responsible for the home health agency’s day-to-day operations and Medicare billing activity. In a 36-count indictment returned earlier this week and unsealed today, Estudillo is charged with conspiracy, health care fraud, money laundering, the structuring of cash transactions and falsifying records to maintain Wescove’s participation in the Medicare program.
According to the indictment, Estudillo paid marketers to recruit Medicare beneficiaries to receive benefits they were not eligible to receive. The marketers recruited and referred Medicare patients to Wescove, even though the beneficiaries were not confined to the home and did not need skilled nursing or therapy services. According to the indictment, Wescove billed Medicare for home health services provided to beneficiaries who were not confined to their homes, did not qualify for or need those types of services, or never received any services.
Estudillo allegedly paid marketers fees ranging from $300 to $4,800, based upon the amount that Wescove was able to fraudulently bill to Medicare. Estudillo would pay marketers higher fees for patient referrals that resulted in increased Medicare billings. She also allegedly paid referral fees that she booked as “skilled nursing” payments to conceal the payment of kickbacks.
According to the indictment, some Medicare beneficiaries were paid cash to sign up for home health services after being recruited by the marketers to receive services they did not need or did not receive. Estudillo allegedly paid more than $3.1 million to at least six marketers for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries.
The indictment charges Estudillo with 11 money laundering counts and 12 cash-structuring violations. These result from allegations that Estudillo laundered the proceeds of her Medicare billing scheme to promote the scheme, conceal the source of payments made to marketers and to herself, and avoid the payment of taxes . According to the indictment, Estudillo paid cash to some of the marketers who referred patients. To facilitate this, Estudillo devised a check-cashing scheme involving the marketers and Wescover employees in which they negotiated Wescove checks, obtained cash, and Estudillo used some of the cash to pay the marketers and patients. Estudillo allegedly wrote checks to marketers and employees in amounts less than $10,000 in an effort to avoid the currency transaction reporting requirements that banks are required to follow.
Estudillo is expected to make her initial court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.
If convicted of all counts in the indictment, Estudillo faces a statutory maximum penalty of 430 years in federal prison.
The investigation of Estudillo was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Money laundering is tax evasion in progress BUT not from Undocumented workers.

FIFTH DEFENDANT IN D.C. PROPERTY TAX REFUND FRAUD SCHEME PLEADS GUILTY
Connie Alexander Received at Least $3,185,370 in Cash and
Deposited at Least $1,588,246 in Fraudulent District of Columbia Checks


Greenbelt, Maryland - Connie Alexander, age 52, of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to receipt of stolen property and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a property tax refund scheme in which millions of dollars were stolen from the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeffrey A. Taylor. As part of her plea agreement, Connie Alexander agreed to forfeit $3,185,370 and, in order to satisfy such money judgment, to forfeit a Mercedes-Benz car, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, a Cadillac Escalade SUV, designer handbags, 62 pieces of jewelry, fur coats and monies held in three bank accounts.

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein stated, “We will seek the forfeiture of all criminal proceeds and property purchased with stolen money because victims deserve restitution and criminals must not be permitted to profit from their crimes. Connie Alexander’s conviction is an important step in our ongoing effort to see to it that justice is done. We will not relent in this investigation until every co-conspirator is held accountable.”

Special Agent in Charge C. Andre Martin, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, stated, "Money laundering is tax evasion in progress. The IRS - Criminal Investigation Division with the law enforcement community are united in our resolve to financially disrupt criminal organizations that commit crimes against our society and economy."

According to the plea agreement, Alexander first met a co-conspirator (Conspirator) in 1992 when Alexander was working at a Maryland casino that the Conspirator frequented. They became friends, and the Conspirator often gave Alexander gifts of money averaging $5,000 per gift. The Conspirator also gave Alexander furs, and paid for much of Alexander’s 2006 wedding and reception at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sometime between 1998 and 2000, the Conspirator introduced Alexander to Walter Jones, whom the Conspirator described as her banker. Soon thereafter, the Conspirator provided Alexander with envelopes containing fraudulently obtained District of Columbia government checks to take to Jones at bank branches in the District of Columbia and Maryland, saying that Jones would know what to do with the envelopes. Sometimes Jones directed Alexander to endorse some of the District of Columbia government checks, even though Alexander did not have an account at the bank and Alexander was not entitled to the proceeds of the checks. Other times, Jones directed Alexander to endorse the District of Columbia government checks by signing “Connie Alexander, Esquire” or to endorse the checks in the name of a law firm, even though Alexander was not an attorney and had no affiliation with the law firm. Each time, Jones completed the transaction and gave Alexander an envelope to take back to the Conspirator. The Conspirator sometimes gave Alexander cash gifts after completing a transaction. From December 1998 to November 2007, Alexander deposited on behalf of the Conspirator at least eight District of Columbia checks totaling $1,558,246.83. The individual checks ranged in amounts from $51,510 to $459,990. At the Conspirator’s direction, Alexander deposited two of these checks in the amounts of $459,990 and $345,500 in a bank account Alexander opened for her business called “Aurora R.E. Enterprises,” a name suggested by the Conspirator.

Between 2002 and 2007, Alexander received at least $3,185,370 in 92 cash payments from members of the conspiracy. Individual payments ranged in amounts of $1,000 to $150,000. Alexander used some of the money to obtain a 2000 Mercedes-Benz automobile, 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle, 2003 Cadillac Escalade SUV, three projection televisions, designer handbags, 62 pieces of jewelry, eight fur coats and two other coats, all of which she has agreed to forfeit, in addition to proceeds from three bank accounts.

Alexander faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for receipt of stolen property and 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the transactions involved, whichever is greater, for conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. has scheduled her sentencing for September 25, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.

Richard Walters, age 49, of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty on May 29, 2008 in connection with the property tax refund scheme. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for receipt of stolen property and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Williams scheduled his sentencing for September 8, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.

Walter Jones, age 33, of Essex, Maryland, pleaded guilty on May 21, 2008 and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the transactions involved, whichever is greater, for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Williams scheduled his sentencing for September 11, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.

Marilyn Yoon, age 40, of Derwood, Maryland, also pleaded guilty on May 19, 2008 in connection with the property tax refund scheme. She faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of property obtained by fraud. Judge Williams scheduled her sentencing for September 12, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.

Ricardo R. Walters, age 33, of Ft. Washington, Maryland, pleaded guilty on May 2, 2008 in connection with the property tax refund scheme and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for receipt of stolen property and 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Williams scheduled his sentencing for July 23, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.

United States Attorneys Rod J. Rosenstein and Jeffrey A. Taylor thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation; the Inspector General’s Office for the District of Columbia; the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, Criminal Investigation Division; and the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Integrity and Oversight for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Su and Deborah Johnston from the District of Maryland and Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Lynch and David Johnson from the District of Columbia, who are prosecuting the case.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE STOLEN FROM MEDICARE AND ULTIMATELY FROM U.S. TAXPAYERS BUT THEY ARE NOT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS !!!!!!!






TWO MEN SENTENCED IN MILLIONAIRE MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME. WHRN THE ANTI IMMIGRANTS WILL START TO ACTING MORE RATIONAL AND USED A COMMON SENSE RATHER THAN BEING BIGOTRY, IGNORANCE AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.


R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced today that on April 2, 2008 the Honorable Adalberto Jordan sentenced defendant Michael Labrada, 27, of Miami to a 97 month prison term and Miguel Castillo, 42, of Miami, to a 57 month prison term for their participation in a multi-million dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme.

Labrada was sentenced in connection with two criminal cases. In the first case, Labrada was convicted of conspiring with Angel Castillo, Jr. to commit health care fraud by serving as a straw owner of a medical equipment company known as JJ & D Medical Equipment, Inc. The company submitted more than $6.8 million dollars in bogus claims and received approximately $1.6 million in payments. In the second case, Labrada was convicted of money laundering charges in connection with a $2.3 million laundering scheme orchestrated by his co-defendant, Angel Castillo, Jr.

Miguel Castillo was also convicted of related health care fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. In addition to serving as a straw owner of a medical equipment company, Miguel Castillo collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraud proceeds from check cashers at the direction of his cousin and co-conspirator, Angel Castillo, Jr.

Last month, Angel Castillo, Jr. was sentenced to a 235 month term in connection with his ownership of more than eight durable medical equipment companies in Miami during 2005 and 2006. The companies collectively submitted in excess of $48,000,000 in false claims by way of two Miami based medical billing companies. In reality, the companies never provided any Medicare patients with any type of equipment or service. Angel Castillo Jr. used a series of straw owners to conduct banking transactions and conceal his ownership of the companies.

After receiving more than $7,000,000 from the Medicare program, Angel Castillo, Jr. then laundered the proceeds of the scheme by using friends, family and other associates, including various bank employees, to cash hundreds of checks. In some cases, Castillo’s associates needed duffel bags to carry the cash out of local banks.

Co-conspirators, Giovanni Guerrero, Javier Roberto More, Angel Hernandez, Juan A. Zaragoza have all pled guilty to related health care fraud and money laundering offenses in the past months. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney William J. Parente Jr. of the Federal Bureau of Investigation