TAMPA, Fla. A former teller at MidFlorida CU pleaded guilty to cashing at least $120,000 in fraudulent income tax returns as part of a scheme that earned suspects from Florida to California more than $1.5 million.
The teller, Whitley Glover, who earned $200 per tax return, is awaiting sentencing while she testifies against several “runners” who cashed phony IRS returns at the credit union, according to court records. The suspects used identities stolen from a Tampa hospital, including information from at least two convicted murderers and other state prison inmates to create the phony tax returns. A woman who worked as a cleaner at University Community Hospital says she stole patient information for use in tax fraud.
Authorities say Tanya Cullens, a former member of the hospital’s cleaning staff, stole a hospital emergency room patient list containing 48 patient names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers and provided it to another co-conspirator for use in tax refund fraud.
Court records show the tax returns filed on behalf of the patients all had common characteristics. They were electronically filed; had common Internet protocol addresses; common mailing addresses; claimed interest only income and withholding; had common email addresses designated by the filer of the return, and had requests for refunds between $5,000 and $10,000.
The originator of the scheme is alleged to be a San Diego man, Kenyon Williams, who has been tied to the filing of $1.5 million in bogus tax returns. Authorities say Williams, who also has been charged in the scheme, received patient information from the San Diego Naval Hospital.
